Seattle Center Monorail
Seattle Center Attractions
OVERVIEW AND HISTORY
One really fun and practical attraction in Seattle is the Seattle Center Monorail. The Monorail celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 and it has served the city well over its long life. Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the ride provided transportation from Seattle Center to downtown Seattle for 8,000,000 patrons during the eight months that the World’s Fair was open. After the World’s Fair concluded, the Monorail continued in operation.
Today, the Monorail provides transportation to 2,000,000 riders annually. It is one of the best ways to go from downtown Seattle to Seattle Center.
The Monorail’s futuristic look from 1962 has aged well and it remains an attractive train. The train, its stations, and its tracks and support columns make excellent photography targets.
The train operator at his station
ROUTE
The tracks run one mile from the North terminal at Seattle Center to the South terminal at Westlake Center in downtown Seattle. The South terminal initially was built in what is now Westlake Park. In 1988, the South terminal was moved to its present location on the top floor of Westlake Center.
MONORAIL FACTS
- The one mile trip takes two minutes.
- Each train can carry up to 200 passengers.
- The train can go up to 45 mph.
- The tallest support columns are 30 feet high.
- Each train has 64 tires.
- The Monorail initially cost $3.5 million to build ($21 million in 2012 dollars) and its cost was repaid with the 8 million riders during the Fair.
- The Monorail is a Seattle Historical Landmark.
- The Monorail is owned by the City of Seattle and is operated by a private company.
TRAIN OPERATIONS
Trains depart from each station every ten minutes during regular operating hours.
Weekdays: trains operate from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Weekends : trains operate from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Fares (one way)
- Adult $2.25
- Youth (5 to 12) $1.00
- Seniors 65 plus $1.00
Fares are cash only. ORCA cards are not accepted.
Please click here to go to the official web site for the Seattle Monorail.
The train's operating console. Note the 1,083,556 miles.
Parked at the Seattle Center station
A 50th anniversary poster at Seattle Center
Entering the Experience Music Project building tunnel
The tracks going through the Experience Music Project Museum
The tracks approaching the Experience Music Project Museum
The tracks leaving Fisher Plaza
The tracks along Westlake Avenue
Looking north from the Westlake Station
Approaching the Westlake Station
The Westlake Station
A train car's interior
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