Century 21 Digital Collection
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.
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Canadian 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
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U.S. Science Pavilion; Bronze forms by Charles W. Smith, Bellevue
Fine Arts exhibition at the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "The Fine Arts exhibition at the Seattle World's Fair is the finest and most extensive collection of painting, sculpture and art objects ever gathered in the West." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 88.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00047
Date: 1962-06-03
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Interior of Gas Industry Pavilion
American Gas Association Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "The pillars supporting the roof of the Gas Pavilion, on Boulevard 21, double as natural gas torches. In the center of the pavilion is a gas-dial clock. Underneath the serrated roof is a graphic report on the uses of natural gas today and a projection of its uses in the year 2001. The educational exhibit explains the sources, processing, by-products and distribution of gas from early Greek times to the present. Time is told on the roof-top clock by the number of torches burning, while the hours are struck by bursts of flame from the central pillar. Ninety-one gas distribution companies are sponsoring the exhibit." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 45.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00495
Date: 1962-05-13
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Republic 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
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Show 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
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La Balcone
Menu of La Balcone, a restaurant on the third-floor balcony of the Food Circus at the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
Identifier: spl_c21_2303818_labalcone
Date: 1962
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Seattle World's Fair to Depict Future, Not the past : Century 21, A $70,000,000 International Exposition, Will Be Open from April 21 until October 21 : Large Section Is Provided for Exhibits of Commerce and Industry
Article from January-February 1962 issue of The Northwest and Its Resources, the magazine of the Northern Pacific Railway, featuring the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
Identifier: spl_c21_2761988
Date: 1962-01
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Lunch time; View is North on Third Av. North; Armory is to right
Construction, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "Close to the center of the fairgrounds is the Food Circus, a great bustling eaters' delight. Ranged about the vast floor are 52 concessions, all producing food in its manifold phases." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 137.) The building was constructed in 1938 as the Washington National Guard Armory (Architects: Floyd A. Naramore and Arrigo M. Young) and was transformed into the Food Circus for the Century 21 Exposition (Architects: Durham, Anderson, and Freed).
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00310
Date: 1962-03-07
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View N.W. of Blvd. East and fairground beyond
View of Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_01079
Date: 1962-09
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A National Aeronautical [i.e. Aeronautics and] Space Administration exhibit
NASA Exhibit, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair): “Graphically outlining the national space program with a variety of models and displays, the N.A.S.A. augments the exhibit with lectures on phases of space flight. In addition to a Saturn rocket model, there is also displayed several successfully launched rocket payloads, rocket engines, and a full-scale Mercury spacecraft. Harry DeVoto, Mgr.” (Official press book : Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, p. 41.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00737
Date: 1962-06-03
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