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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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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Oregon State Pavilion; interior view
"The Boulevards of the World area is the shopping center of the fair. Stores, stands and kiosks displaying the goods and gifts of a dozen nations line the gay and colorful thoroughfares that tie the five theme Worlds of Century 21 together." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 119.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00750
Date: 1962-07
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Past & Present
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)
Identifier: spl_wl_sec_01654
Date: 1961-09-29
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Christian Witness Pavillion [i.e. Pavilion]: View West at dusk
Christian Witness Pavilion of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "The Christian Witness Pavilion on Friendship Mall serves the dual role of presenting a message of hope for the future and housing the fair's Children's Center. The Children's Center is designed for youngsters from three through seven years old. Educational and entertaining displays and demonstrations provide a Christian atmosphere in which the children can study and play. A professional staff, assisted by volunteers especially trained for the task, supervises the children. The second role of the pavilion is a visual and audio presentation open to all. Visitors walk into a large auditorium where a seven-minute presentation, aided by lighting and sound effects, sets the stage for the Christian message that the only optimism for a world living with a cobalt bomb is in God." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 65)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00185
Date: 1962-08
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Elvis Presley in "Meet Me at the Fair" a M.G.M. picture; J. Souders; band leader to left
Elvis Presley filming "It happened at the World's Fair" at the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "Elvis Presley came to town to make the film It Happened at the World’s Fair. Using the fair as a backdrop for an Elvis movie was actually the brainchild of Governor Albert D. Rosellini, who suggested the idea to studio execs at MGM. They liked the concept, and soon enough The King showed up, turning heads and causing girls to shriek everywhere he went." (Century 21 Exposition (1962): Music at the Fair. HistoryLink.org, http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9367)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00896
Date: 1962-09-14
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View west to central Information Pavilion [i.e. General Insurance Company Information Center]
Landscaping, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Landscape architects have praised the Seattle World's Fair, as it is unique among international expositions. For the first time, landscape design is permanent, remaining in the Seattle Center after the Fair…More than 15,000 flowering annuals give color and texture, beginning with daffodils and tulips, going through snapdragons, china asters, dahlias (the Fair flower, although there is also a Century 21 rose), begonias (5,000 donated by the Dutch government), and early and late chrysanthemums.” (Official press book : Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, p. 71.) General Insurance Company Information Center, designed by Austin Associates, is visible in background.
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00672
Date: 1962-09
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Bronze plaque on new Shrine bldg. 3rd Ave. No. near Thomas
Nile Temple of the Shrine, on the grounds of the future Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “In 1953…the Nile Temple of the Shrine, a Masonic social and charitable organization,…built a new headquarters building…at the corner of Third Avenue North and Thomas Street. The Nile Temple chose the site in order to permit uniformed units to dress in the Nile Building and then march to the nearby Civic Auditorium for Shrine ceremonials twice a year…The Nile Temple Building was converted for use as the Century 21 Club, a membership organization formed especially for the fair, which offered lounge, dining room, and other club facilities. The $250 membership fee provided a permanent gate pass along with club facilities for the six-month duration of the fair. A vacant space at the front of the building was used to construct a temporary structure, which would house the Christian Witness Pavilion & Child Care Center.” (Cathy Wickwire, Survey Report: Comprehensive Inventory of City-Owned Historic Resources, Seattle, Washington, 2001, pp. 19-22.)
Identifier: spl_wl_sec_01140
Date: 1957-10
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View east of plaza south of Coliseum with Space Needle
Little Hippo Inn / Hippo Burger Restaurant, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "Snacks and meals are available almost anywhere you go on the fairgrounds. In addition to the food concessions to be found in the fabulous Food Circus...there are places to eat in every area." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 135.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00438
Date: 1962-07
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One of 2 lions at entrance to World's Fair Museum
The World’s Fair Museum operated on the grounds of the Seattle Center, in the former United Arab Republic Pavilion of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair), during the summer of 1963. It displayed photographs and artifacts from the fair.
Identifier: spl_wl_sec_02007
Date: 1963-08-16
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