Originally Club 19, this Lake City building went up in 1961, just before the Century 21 Exposition. It draws off that same midcentury futurism as many of the iconic buildings of the era, with a classic drive-in design. The architect was Roland Terry, who also had a hand in Canlis.

Although construction began in 1926, University of Washington’s Suzzallo Library has the look of a much older library at a much older college, with gothic arches and a bell tower—a look not seen to often in the northwest.

Seattle’s poshest dining destination is also a local midcentury icon. Roland Terry and Pete Wimberly designed the building, which juts out from a cliff overlooking Lake Union, just before the Aurora Bridge.

The Space Needle is maybe the most popular destination within the Seattle Center, but the Pacific Science Center and its surrounding arches, also built for the Century 21 Exposition, are just as iconic. They were designed by World Trade Center architect Minoru Yamasaki.

Writing for Queerspace, Adrian Ryan called this Capitol Hill icon “unmistakably Rosemary’s Baby-looking.” Built in 1924, it’s built like they don’t build ‘em anymore, with terra cotta, parapets, and even a spire. It’s like four separate apartment buildings decided to get together and start a school for wayward girls.

This is less an iconic building and more an iconic sign. The gigantic, rotating, neon elephant first popped up in 1956, and its location on Denny Way where the street connects to State Route 99 makes it that much more recognizable.

Rainier Tower, built in 1977, was designed by Minoru Yamasaki and features a tapered base. A new tower planned for the same block takes the opposite strategy, starting wide and tapering off at the top.

Built in 2004 and designed by Rem Koolhaas, this is one of the newer buildings on the list—but the home of the downtown public library was an instant classic. Built out of concrete, steel, and glass, when you’re not seeing the sky through the soaring box of exterior windows, you feel like you’re walking through a spaceship.

In a downtown full of historic (and supremely extra) terra cotta buildings, the Arctic Club is a cut above with its walrus motifs. There used to be a big ol’ polar bear, too, but it was lost during a 2006 renovation.

Merchants Cafe stands out from similar Pioneer Square buildings with its original signage and details, including a stained-glass window.

One could mark the entirety of Pioneer Square as iconic, but the J&M, with its stained glass signage and sailboat mural on one side, is a particular standout—similar to nearby Merchants Cafe.

Designed by Charles Reed and Allen Stem and built in 1906, the station’s 250-foot clock tower was modeled after Venice, Italy’s Piazza de San Marco’s bell tower. A recent renovation uncovered ornate ceilings, wainscoting and mosaic tile work hidden after an unfortunate redesign in the 1960s.

This classic Sodo building used to be entirely occupied by Sears, which added a tower to a former catalog warehouse. The company’s presence in the building tapered down over the years before the remaining store finally closed in 2014. Now it’s the Starbucks headquarters—but before the siren topped the tower it labeled the neighborhood with a red neon “SODO.”

What’s more iconic in the Pacific Northwest than Rainier Beer design hallmarks? The original Rainier Brewery in Georgetown lines an edge of Interstate 5, so drivers got accustomed to seeing the glowing red R as they drove south through Seattle. Then a dark time came: Tully’s took over the building in 2000 and replaced the R with a green T.

Eventually, though, the building was once again sold and found new life as an arts and event space—and a replica of the R was created and restored to its rightful place. (The original is at the Museum of History and Industry.)

The train cars that make up the Orient Express were first brought to the site in 1949 for Andy’s Diner, which closed in 1991. Initially, it was just one car. Now it’s several, including one that used to be FDR’s personal train car. Drop by for some karaoke and imagine you’re on a really, really fun trip.