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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Entrance to Transportation Pavilion
Transport 21 Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Four railroads have joined to finance a look at railroad transportation in the next century: Northern Pacific, Milwaukee, Union Pacific and Great Northern. There is a special emphasis on the integration of transportation and industry, making it easy to gather finished products for inter-city shipment. Dean Eastman, chairman” (Official press book: Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, 1962, p. 41.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_01003
Date: 1962-10
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Interior View of State Coliseum for Century 21 Exposition
Article from January 1, 1960 issue of Progress, describing construction of Washington State Coliseum for Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
Identifier: spl_c21_2772486
Date: 1960-01-01
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View S.E. from U.S. Science Bldg. balcony on Denny Way
Construction, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00309
Date: 1962-03-11
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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. Left Information Pavilion; Back is partial view of U.S. Science Pavilion
General Insurance Company Information Center and United States Science Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). On the Information Center, designed by Austin Associates: “The Seattle World's Fair Information Center is located in front of the United States Science Pavilion on Friendship Mall. It is sponsored by the General Insurance Company of America, whose home office is in Seattle. A coral-colored nylon roof tops the open-sided structure. Ten trained guides help visitors with information about the fair, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The guides, young ladies dressed in yellow blouses and brown skirts, have complete information on locations of buildings, exhibits and service facilities at the-fair. In addition, they will answer questions about places to see, transportation, lodging, service club meetings and sightseeing.” (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 64.) On the United States Science Pavilion, designed by Minoru Yamasaki and Associates and Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson: “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_00618
Date: 1962-02-25
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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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View S.W. of Opera House entrance from Mercer Str.
Opera House, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). “The brand-new Opera House (225 Mercer Street) had been constructed within the shell of Seattle's old Civic Auditorium -- which New York Times critic Harold C. Schonberg described as a ‘6,000 seat, flat-floored, unpleasant’ space that had ‘held just about everything but bullfights.’ Now the hall was the 3,100 seat pride of the town's arts establishment.” (Peter Blecha, “Century 21 Exposition (1962): Performing Arts at the Fair.” HistoryLink.org, http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9371
Identifier: spl_wl_sec_00907
Date: 1962-06
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On the Blvds. of the World; 2nd Ave. No.
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_00228
Date: 1962-04-28
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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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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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