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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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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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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Sweden 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
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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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View N.E. of Commerce Pavilion
Interiors, Fashion, and Commerce Pavilion of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). <br><br> “Architecturally speaking, this exhibit building appears to be a candidate as one of the most successful on the fairgrounds. It is far from being spectacular, but as an understatement fulfills several objectives. <br><br> “First and foremost, the structure in its simple form and neutral color scheme (white and shades of gray)provides an appropriate backdrop for the fashions, fabrics and other displays it will house, rather than competes with them. The long horizontal lines create an effective foil for the sharp vertical of the adjacent Space Needle; and the roof, in particular, helps to contain a triangular area which is rather disorganized in its plan. The sloping site permits three ceiling gradients by dropping the floor levels. <br><br> “Precast concrete columns support prebuilt steel joists and girders. Cement stucco containing selected chips from an eastern Washington quarry make up the fascia and walls. The poured-in-place concrete bulkhead gets its pattern from the wood inserts used in the forming and provides the contraction jointing.” (An Architect’s Guidebook to the Seattle World’s Fair. Seattle, Pacific Builder and Engineer, April 1962, p. 31)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00155
Date: 1962-09
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View N.E. in Show Str. N.E. corner of fairground
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…GRACIE HANSEN’S PARADISE INTERNATIONAL -- A lush dinner club featuring a Las Vegas type show put together by Barry Ashton. The entire operation is labeled ‘excellent’ by everyone who goes there.” (Official press book : Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, p. 60.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00865
Date: 1962-04-21
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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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U.S. Science Pavilion; Ankle deep mud is after rain feature
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_sec_01632
Date: 1962-02-13
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