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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Coliseum; Firebird III. A General Motors exhibit
General Motors Corporation Exhibit, one of the exhibits within the Washington State Coliseum at the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).<br><br>"Revolutionary automotive and highway concepts already in the test stage in preparation for the world of tomorrow are displayed in the General Motors Corporation Exhibit in the Coliseum...The Firebird III, an experimental automobile with a sleek profile, is the brightest star in General Motors' exhibitional gallery. Propelled by a gasoline turbine engine, the Firebird III is an appropriate symbol of travel in Century 21." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications, p. 36.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00198
Date: 1962-09
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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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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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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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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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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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U.S. Science Pavilion interior
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_00851
Date: 1962-10
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View East with Monorail station to left; 110.000 fair attendance day; 4 P.M.
Aerial view of Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). “World’s Fair attendance, like a flaming skyrocket, zoomed to a new record yesterday. By 10 o’clock, the total was 114,104. The old mark was 106,860, set September 15. The fair’s new admissions policy--$1 after 6 o’clock instead of the regular $2--was credited with pulling in the evening crowd.” (Stanton H. Patty, Seattle Times, October 7, 1962.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00329
Date: 1962-10-06
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Metropolitan Theater front facade, April 1953
Seattle; Wash. Metropolitan Theater.
Identifier: spl_wl_thr_00122
Date: 1953-04
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View N.W. of Int. Exhibit area north of Coliseum
Construction of International Mall of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). “Six hyperbolic paraboloid shells blending into a single fluted column make up two of the exhibit buildings; the third, not shown, is simply a box beam shelter. The twin structures actually are a collection of 52 of these shells and, with their classic Oriental overtones, seem to be particularly fitting for the foreign displays they contain. A fine, clean concrete surface was created by coating the four forms with fiberglass. High-early cement was used to cast the 1 ½ in. thick shells. With temperatures ranging from 35 to 65 deg., calcium chloride was added and cylinder strengths of over 3,000 lb. were obtained in 24 hours. Located on the northwest corner of the exposition site, the inside-out umbrellas with their colorful fiberglass panels present an exciting boundary.” (An Architect’s Guidebook to the Seattle World’s Fair. Seattle, Pacific Builder and Engineer, April 1962, p. 32.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00277
Date: 1962-02-11
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