Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair showcased Seattle as a space-age city. See photos, brochures, postcards and other items related to Seattle’s 1960s vision of the future.
Seattle Municipal News, v. 31, no. 40, Nov. 8, 1941
Identifier: spl_mn_198039_31_40
Date: 1941-11-08
View this itemFord Motor Co. Pavilion; cabin of space craft interior
Ford Motor Company Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle Worlds Fair). "A realistic simulated journey to outer space aboard a specially constructed, 100-seat passenger spacecraft is just one of the attractions at this exhibit, one of the most popular on the grounds. Also featured is the farm of the future, a dream car, consumer products of tomorrow and a new products display. Lee Kollins, Manager." (Official press book : Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, p. 40.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00471
Date: 1962-10
View this itemSpace Needle at night, with Memorial Stadium; view S., 1962
Space Needle, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “The Space Needle, a modernistic totem of the Seattle World’s Fair, was conceived by Eddie Carlson as a doodle in 1959 and given form by architects John Graham Jr., Victor Steinbrueck, and John Ridley. When King County declined to fund the project, five private investors, Bagley Wright, Ned Skinner, Norton Clapp, John Graham Jr., and Howard S. Wright, took over and built the 605-foot tower in less than a year.” (Walt Crowley, “Space Needle (Seattle).” HistoryLink.org, http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=1424)<br><br>Clarence E. "Gene" Voiland was a West Seattle pharmacist who enjoyed using his new Balda Baldamatic I 35 mm camera.
Identifier: spl_c21_jv_029
Date: 1962
View this itemGoodyear Blimp & Space Needle from DuPen Fountain
DuPen Fountain, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Everett DuPen, professor of art at the University of Washington, designed the fountain in the International Plaza, near the Canadian Pavilion. Rising from a shallow pool are three abstract bronze sculptures, which depict the evolution of life from a single cell to man and the conquest of space. The figures stand in the midst of water jets and are lighted from beneath by 37 powerful spotlights. The central figure, according to the sculptor, is the tree of life. The other figures are abstracts of sea gulls and flowing seaweed.”
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00990
Date: 1962-07
View this itemSeattle Mail and Herald, v. 7, no. 9, Jan. 9, 1904
Page 1 features portrait of Post-Intelligencer artist Ernest C. Jenner.
Identifier: spl_mh_198239_1904_07_09
Date: 1904-01-09
View this itemView north from Washington State Power exhibit; Armory to left
Washington State Electric Power Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). “In an effort to show how Washington's generous supply of water is harnessed and converted to plentiful, low-cost electric power, the Electric Utilities has constructed a 40-foot dam with six spillways and a 16x24 foot relief man showing the state's principle power dams and a transmissions network between 24 major cities. John Bensen, Manager.” (Official press book: Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, 1962, p. 40)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_01089
Date: 1962-03-30
View this itemRepublic of China week dedication; Mr. Joseph E. Gandy; Fair president on speakers platform; Republic of China Pavilion in background
Republic of China Pavilion of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Six large paintings depicting the successful land reform on Taiwan, known world-wide as ‘one of the miracles in human history,’ is one of the highlights of the exhibit. Construction for the entire exhibit was prefabricated on Taiwan. The exhibits in the pavilion can be divided in industrial products and handicrafts. Mr. C.T. Van, Manager.” (Official press book: Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, 1962, p. 37)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00170
Date: 1962-10-08
View this itemShow Street; Partial view north-east corner
Show Street was the "adult entertainment" section of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair)."With a thought that a sample of the best of everything belongs at a World's Fair, the northeast corner of the Fairgrounds is devoted to adult entertainment. This area is called Show Street U.S.A. Show Street offers food and drink, exciting show girls, the natural and the unusual. It's a great place to spend an evening." (Official press book : Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, p. 60.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00881
Date: 1962-06
View this itemCanadian military tatoo [i.e. tattoo] in stadium; Massed bands of 2 military units
Canadian Tattoo in Memorial Stadium, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Easily the most popular show was the Canadian Tattoo, staged in the Stadium. For two hours, Washington’s neighbors to the north dazzled--there is no other word--spectators with a show that traced the history of Canada, from fur trade to modern days, through its military forces. There were brief dramatic cameos; uniformed soldiers and sailors marched in cadence; kilted bagpipers and a seemingly endless supply of fresh horses galloping in the closest thing to precision that man and beast are likely to attain. At one point, a blank cartridge was fired and a hundred or so uniformed soldiers, standing side by side, toppled one at a time, like dominoes laid on end. Afterward, spectators could only say, ‘You had to be there! You just had to be there!’” (Don Duncan, Meet Me at the Center. Seattle: Seattle Center Foundation, 1992, p. 64.) Memorial Stadium was built in 1948 in memory of former Seattle high-school students killed in World War II. Owned by the Seattle School District, it was leased to the Century 21 Exposition for the Seattle World’s Fair. The Fair’s opening ceremonies and many large events were held there.
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00907
Date: 1962-09-16
View this itemSweden Pavilion; Gun from warship Vasa sunk Aug. 10, 1628 in Stockholm harbor
Sweden Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Sweden’s three main products, steel, wood and glass are shown throughout the pavilion with a special 2 1/2 ton glass wall and a modern wood relief as two of the main displays. Also shown are relics of the VASA, a 17th century Swedish man-of-war that sunk on its maiden voyage and was only raised last year. Visitors can see many Swedish handicrafts. Mr. Reisbeck, Manager” (Official press book: Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, 1962, p. 37)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00968
Date: 1962-09
View this item