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.
Food Circus
The Food Circus of the 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).<br><br>Clarence E. "Gene" Voiland was a West Seattle pharmacist who enjoyed using his new Balda Baldamatic I 35 mm camera.
Identifier: spl_c21_jv_020
Date: 1962
View this itemUnited Arab Republic Pavilion interior;
United Arab Republic Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “The United Arab Republic Pavilion, on International Plaza, presents a composite picture of modern Egypt, one of the oldest nations in history. With photographs, motion pictures, displays and samples, the changes taking place in the land of the pharohs [sic] are explained. Since it achieved independence in the post-World War II era, the country’s industrial and social patterns have altered radically. There is a touch of the traditional in the exhibit, however. The famed pyramids, temples and statues of antiquity are represented in a photographic gallery of tourist attractions.” (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 72.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_01015
Date: 1962-10
View this itemPacking box for British Pavilion
Packing boxes for the Great Britain Pavilion of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00135
Date: 1962-04-06
View this itemCentury 21 plywood home of living light
Brochure from Plywood Home of Living Light exhibit, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "The unique Home of Living Light for Tomorrow, The Douglas Fir Plywood Association Exhibit which dramatizes the many possibilities of a completely new approach to home construction, is located on Freedom Way, at the north end of the Boulevards of the World. The Practical Builder, a trade publication, cooperated in the design of the house, which was created by the Tacoma architectural firm of Liddle and Jones. The walls are made of continuous wood paneling which, like corrugated packing paper, is rigid in one direction and flexible in the other. The results are walls that can take shape and still support the required roof loads." (Official Guide Book, Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications. p. 47.) This brochure describes the home's features. Illustrated with color photographs.
Identifier: spl_c21_2251598
Date: 1962?
View this itemBritish Pavilion: Mural by Mr. Barry Wilkinson
Interior of Great Britain Pavilion of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "Demonstrations of Britain's revolutionary developments in science and technology are the highlight of the pavilion. Research and development in surgery, atomic power, aviation, and space research are stressed. Industrial achievements in agriculture, marine exploration and automobiles are also displayed." (Official press book: Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, 1962, p. 36.)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00132
Date: 1962-09-01
View this itemHawaiian Pavilion and Space Needle
Islands of Hawaii Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "All-wood structure is 12-sided 'circle' 100 ft. in diameter with post-free 600-seat theater for Polynesian entertainment." (An Architect’s Guidebook to the Seattle World’s Fair. Sea
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00582
Date: 1962-04-20
View this itemHawaii Pavilion at night; View S.E.
Islands of Hawaii Pavilion, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). "All-wood structure is 12-sided 'circle' 100 ft. in diameter with post-free 600-seat theater for Polynesian entertainment." (An Architect’s Guidebook to the Seattle World’s Fair. Seattle, Pacific Builder and Engineer, April 1962, p. 39)
Identifier: spl_wl_exp_00579
Date: 1962-08
View this itemColiseum being roofed over; View west
Washington State Coliseum, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). “Superlatives are helpful in describing the fair’s $4 million theme building, for it is one of the largest clear span structures in the world; and the aluminum roof, the only one of its kind in existence, sweeps 110 ft. into the air at the apex, supported by steel compression trusses rising from massive concrete abutments.” (An Architect’s Guidebook to the Seattle World’s Fair. Seattle, Pacific Builder and Engineer, April 1962, p. 17.)
Identifier: spl_wl_sec_00447
Date: 1961-10-14
View this itemColiseum as seen from Domestic Commerce & Industry Bldg. View N.W.
View of Washington State Coliseum from Hall of Industry, Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair). On the Coliseum, designed by Paul Thiry: “Superlatives are helpful in describing the fair’s $4 million theme building, for it is one of the largest clear span structures in the world; and the aluminum roof, the only one of its kind in existence, sweeps 110 ft. into the air at the apex, supported by steel compression trusses rising from massive concrete abutments.” (An Architect’s Guidebook to the Seattle World’s Fair. Seattle, Pacific Builder and Engineer, April 1962, p. 17.) On the Hall of Industry, designed by Robert B. Price: “The domestic exhibitors in this building all show how the ‘magic key’ of research has just begun to open the way to the future. The pavilion is 277 feet long and is highlighted by six-foot multi-colored plastic pyramids that extend on both sides of the roof and ceiling.” (Official press book : Seattle World's Fair 1962. Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, p. 43.)
Identifier: spl_wl_sec_00443
Date: 1962-02-28
View this itemSeattle World's Fair 1962 : Cathay Arts Co., Hong Kong
Brochure of the Cathay Arts Company, which sold furniture and gifts from Hong Kong on the Boulevards of the World at the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
Identifier: spl_c21_2815122
Date: 1962
View this item