Downtown Tours

Diamonds & Gold: The Art Deco Skyscraper Northwest Style

Take a trip back in time to the Roaring 20s. Following the horrors of World War I, architects began fusing modern structural advances with beautiful, lively, organic designs to create the style known as Art Deco. You’ll discover diamonds and gold. And you’ll see how Northwest imagery was incorporated into the Deco elegance and innovation of these architectural gems. Featured stops Exchange Building, the Seattle Tower and Washington Athletic Club. On this tour, you will go back in time to visit lush lobbies and ornate commercial buildings to learn how technology, archeology and French design influences some of Seattle’s most impressive buildings.

This tour meets in the lobby of Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101.

Photo: Alice Hammond

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Map highlighting the Central Business District and Downtown Seattle, showcasing streets and notable areas like Pike Place Market, with an emphasis on the Art Deco skyscrapers that embody Northwest style.
Red brick building with white accents, viewed from below against a blue sky. Green trees partially obscure the lower part of the Art Deco structure.

Downtown Tours

Our Downtown tours begin in various locations.

Please review your confirmation email to ensure that you have the right address.

Tours are approximately two hours in length, unless otherwise noted. Tickets purchased in advance cost $25 for General Admission, $20 for SAF Members, and $22 for Students and Seniors over 65. Advance registration is strongly encouraged. Walk-ups are limited to space available and cost $30. Ticket sales close at 9:00am the morning of the tour. Online registration is handled through Bold Type Tickets. For our tour policies or to learn about booking a private tour, visit our Tours FAQ page.

Please note: A minimum of three people must be registered for tours to take place. Tours with fewer than three registered attendees on the Thursday before the tour will be cancelled. SAF may cancel tours in cases of extreme weather. We do not cancel tours due to rain. If you purchased a ticket for a cancelled tour, you have the option of transferring the ticket to a future tour date or being issued a refund.