Smith Tower Observatory
Oct 15, 2017, 8:45 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Smith Tower Observatory
Planning to visit the bar one night and wanted to know if I'd be missing out on anything that is only accessible during the day? The point of visiting is to tour the building but I'm wondering if there are significant areas only open during daytime hours? Does the daytime "tour" offer anything of merit that I'd be missing by visiting the bar at night? Our schedule is tight and it's close to our hotel so I figure it'd be a fun place for a nightcap, but I don't want to miss the architectural focus of the tour if there are sections of the building that remain closed in the evenings. Can anyone offer some feedback? Thanks.
Oct 16, 2017, 7:55 am
#2
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Planning to visit the bar one night and wanted to know if I'd be missing out on anything that is only accessible during the day? The point of visiting is to tour the building but I'm wondering if there are significant areas only open during daytime hours? Does the daytime "tour" offer anything of merit that I'd be missing by visiting the bar at night? Our schedule is tight and it's close to our hotel so I figure it'd be a fun place for a nightcap, but I don't want to miss the architectural focus of the tour if there are sections of the building that remain closed in the evenings. Can anyone offer some feedback? Thanks.
Oct 20, 2017, 6:04 pm
#4
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I went there just last month (Sep. 2017); the tour is self-guided, and there are various interpretive displays on the history of the building and of the people who worked there back in the day, including both the obscure and the (in)famous. Fascinating and worth the time and money, IMO.
I believe that these interpretive displays (and some other upgrades to the building) were added by the new owner/manager, Unico Properties, who bought the tower in 2015.
I believe that these interpretive displays (and some other upgrades to the building) were added by the new owner/manager, Unico Properties, who bought the tower in 2015.
Oct 26, 2017, 8:24 pm
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Smith Tower was indeed fantastic although the bar itself kind of sucked (shoddy cocktails) and the music was way off when we visited. They were playing club style house music which kind of threw the atmosphere for us. The elevator operator told us they usually play period correct jazz / swing so that was kind of a drag. It was pouring rain so we didn't step outside but it was still 100% worth visiting. The Sky Needle on the other hand was a complete tourist trap rip-off and a total waste of time. I'll respond in the other thread when I have a minute this weekend.