Seven fun facts about the PI globe

If you live in Uptown it is hard not to notice the PI's revolving neon globe above it all. We like it, even though they can't seem to get all of the lights to work at the same time. Sometimes Asia is lit up, sometimes not. Sometimes it says "It's in the P-I", sometimes it says "I 's n the P- ". Here's a little history about Uptown's classic public landmark:

1. It was built in 1948 for $28,000.
2. For 40 years it was on the old PI building at 6th and Wall.
3. It was built by Pacific Car and Foundry and Electrical Products Consolidated. (Pacific Car and Foundry is still in business as PACCAR and manufactures heavy-duty trucks. It looks like Electrical Products Consolidated didn't make it.)
4. Capitol letters are 8 feet tall, small letters are 5 feet tall.
5. It weighs 18.5 tons.
6. It uses 38 kilowatts an hour when fully lit. (Which, as we already mentioned, is rare.)
7. The idea for the globe came from a promotional contest, which Jakk Corsaw won. He was a UW art student at the time. Jakk had an art gallery in Pike Place Market in the 1960s, and is now buried on Vashon Island. His real name was Jack, but he went by Jakk. We're guessing Jakk was very hip.

Sources: Seattle PI Globe history page, the Internet

-- K

Tags: uptown, seattle, seattlepi, jakk