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 photo mural
United States Science Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). “Beneath five arching towers representing man’s constant striving for knowledge for the universe will be presented the most significant scientific display ever assembled…It is the United States Government’s Science Exhibit, a $9,000,000 program of participation including a giant six-building pavilion and unique exhibits dedicated to showing the peaceful uses of science. Stepping out of the textbook into the techniques of showmanship will be the authentic story of the tremendous break-throughs in the barriers which now stand between man and his conquering of space, his control of weather, disease, and over-population of the world.” (Washington State Dept. of Commerce and Economic Development. Seattle World's Fair preview. Seattle: Acme Publications, 1961, n.p.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00842
Date: 1962-09
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Temporary post-fire buildings on 3d Ave., ca. June 1889
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle Fire. June 6, 1889. Reconstruction. Temporary buildings. Third Ave. Between James St. and Jefferson St. 1889."
Identifier: spl_shp_23056
Date: 1889-06?
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View S.E. of Rand McNally & Co. to right so. of Coliseum
Rand McNally Company exhibit, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Focal point of attention in this exhibit is the Geo-Physical Globe, reportedly the most accurate and detailed scientific relief globe ever constructed. A display of maps and atlases includes the official Rand McNally map of the Fairgrounds. Less than 20 Geo-Physical Globes are known to be in existence.” (Official press book : Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, p. 42.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00812
Date: 1962-05-13
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Report of the Chief of Police, City of Seattle for the Year Ending December 31, 1891
First annual report of the Seattle Police Department providing statistics on the police force, arrests made, and occupation of those arrested. Also included are department expenses, an inventory of police property, a roster of the individuals in the force and proposals for new city ordinances.
Identifier: spl_saw_894498
Date: 1891
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Space Needle from south of Coliseum
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_01774
Date: 1962-02-25
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Washington State theme exhibit interior in Coliseum
Washington State Theme Exhibit, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Rising in the center of the Coliseum, the ‘World of Tomorrow’ exhibit symbolizes the 21st century -- just beyond man’s reach yet within his range of vision. The theme of this structure of interlocking aluminum cubes, ‘The Threshold and the Threat,’ depicts the ambivalence of atomic power, to be employed either for the advancement or the annihilation of man and his planet. Visitors ascend to the overhead exhibit in a globe-shaped elevator, the ‘Bubbleator,’ for a 21-minute tour of the future, which includes a look at the city of tomorrow, the home of the future, and transportation, industry, food production, education, communications and recreation in the 21st century…The ‘World of Tomorrow’ exhibit was designed by the Donald Deskey Associates of New York and installed by the Radio Corporation of America. The State of Washington sponsored and financed the exhibit.” (Official press book: Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, 1962, pp. 31-32.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_01100
Date: 1962-10-07
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Seattle Sustainable Neighborhoods Assessment Project (SSNAP) Report, 2014
The SSNAP report analyzes the outcome of the city's 1994-2014 Comprensive Plan: Toward a Sustainable Seattle. It provides statistical analyses on various Seattle neighborhoods with the intent of providing key data for future planning. The neighborhoods examined include Downtown, the University District, West Seattle Junction, Ballard, Lake City, Westwood-Highland Park, Rainier Beach, North Beacon Hill, Eastlake and Aurora-Licton Springs. These areas were identified as significant urban centers due to their rapid growth.
Identifier: spl_saw_3077255
Date: 2014-09
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View so. of U.S. Science Pavilion arches
United States Science Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). “The lacy pattern of this six-unit complex placed around a central court with its 100-ft. high arches is in decided contrast to the forcefulness of Coliseum 21. In a sense, the pavilion is a salute to concrete, for it is believed to represent the largest single use of precast and prestressed structural components in the nation.” (An Architect’s Guidebook to the Seattle World’s Fair. Seattle, Pacific Builder and Engineer, April 1962, p. 21)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_01078
Date: 1962-05-13
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Town & Country : Special Seattle issue
Selections from August, 1962 issue of Town & Country, focusing on the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). Includes "Fashions in Seattle," a 14-page spread of models posing at the Century 21 fairgrounds.
Identifier: spl_c21_421773_Aug1962
Date: 1962-08
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On Boulevard West
Boulevards of the World at the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "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. Exotic shops and restaurants are on Boulevard East, Boulevard West, Freedom Way and United Nations Way. In among the bazaars are fine restaurants and elegant exhibits. In the streets, kiosks display food and favors for sale, while along the edges are benches for the sightseers." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 119.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00237
Date: 1962-05-05
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