The highest publicly accessible point in the Singer Building was above the curb, at the lantern balcony. When the observatory opened on June 23, 1908, visitors paid $0.50 () to use the observation area at the top of the building. From this observatory, visitors could see up to away. After two people jumped from the observatory and died, the Singer Tower received the nickname "Suicide Pinnacle" and the observatory was closed by the 1930s. From the observatory, a series of steep ladders and stairs led to the lantern.