News
A Fair to Remember
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Seattle's 1962 World's Fair.
Fifty years ago, Seattle threw a party for the world. The World’s Fair—called The Century 21 Exposition—was a celebration of Space Age innovation at a time of hope and futuristic yearnings. Our city, once regarded by many as a muddy Wild West outpost, was thrust into the world’s spotlight, suddenly becoming sophisticated and cutting edge….
Seattle Remembers the Japanese Internment
Seventy years ago this month, hundreds of Bainbridge Island residents were given 6 days to leave the
A wrenching chapter in our region’s history was written 70 years ago this month: the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans. In 1942, in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack, amidst war hysteria, racism and fears of sabotage, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, forcing the evacuation of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry (two-thirds…
Cruise Ship Control
Disney Cruise Line pulls into the port on the Seattle waterfront this spring. Do these behemoth boat
They pour into Seattle by the hundreds of thousands: cruise ship passengers from all over the world, clamoring to board floating cities for slo-mo luxury tours of Puget Sound and points beyond. Seattle has become a major launching spot for cruise ships setting sail to southeast Alaska, with its cavorting whales, calving glaciers and staggeringly…
Locals’ Seattle Center Memories
Our city’s civic gathering place has played host to many memorable and poignant moments. Here are a
Marie McCaffrey Executive director, HistoryLink.org I was 11 in 1962 and went to the fair at least twice. You can see the proof in these pictures (above). One is in the world’s fair photo booth. I clearly remember the smell and the taste of the Belgian waffle, which made such an indelible impression on everyone….
Cool Souvenirs from the World’s Fair
Sure, they’re kitschy now, but back in 1962, these items were hot property.
1. Champagne glasses (with Space Needle stems) used on opening night of the fair 2. A ticket book, with individual tickets for fair exhibits 3. An official Space Needle beanie, whose top shakes like a maraca 4. A commemorative egg timer on a piece of wood (of course!) 5. Porcelain salt and pepper shakers 6….
Back to the Future: Why Seattle’s World’s Fair Mattered
Our own Knute Berger—who is the official writer of the Space Needle—looks back on the 1962 Seattle W
In the winter of 1962, my Cub Scout den had taken a field trip to the top of the Smith Tower, then one of the tallest buildings west of the Mississippi. We went to the observation deck, where we had an unobstructed view across downtown to a strange spire that was rising near Queen Anne…
The History of the Seattle Center: A Timeline
The events that shaped Seattle's 1962 World's Fair and, eventually, the Seattle Center as we know it
June 1–October 16, 1909: Seattle’s first world’s fair, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, takes place (see photo above). 1954: City Council member Al Rochester proposes the idea that Seattle host a world’s fair to mark the 50th anniversary of the A-Y-P. February 19, 1957: The World’s Fair Commission receives authorization from Washington Governor Albert Rosellini to hold…
Space Needle Trivia!
Five things you didn’t know about Seattle’s Space Age icon.
The Space Needle Is Well Rooted (see above photo) The Space Needle has a 30-foot-deep foundation made with 2,800 yards of concrete and 250 tons of reinforcing steel. The above-ground portion of the Needle weighs an impressive 3,700 tons, but the foundation is even mightier, weighing in at 5,850 tons. Thanks to this massive hidden…
Commemorative Space Needle Toppers
Even better than a billboard, the Space Needle is a prominent way to get a message across.
Since its construction, we’ve been decorating the Space Needle to commemorate special occasions. A crustacean ascended the Space Needle in October, 1985 as a publicity stunt for Fish and Seafood Month. In July, 2008, the Sub Pop flag was flown in honor of the local record label’s 20th anniversary. Squatch helped paint a Sonics mural…
Why More Seattleites are Getting Plastic Surgery
Seattle’s tough job market is prompting a wave of plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry.
Looks aren’t everything, but in the world of finance, they can be a key to success, according to Scott, a 57-year-old Seattle-area certified financial planner and wealth manager. Though things had been going well at work, Scott was worried about losing his edge. He’s physically very fit—a nationally ranked athlete—but until recently, his eyes sported…
Washington Loses Its Film-Incentive Program
Despite a stellar performance, the state’s Motion Picture Competitiveness Program ends up on the cut
Local filmmakers and film buffs hoped it was just a blooper reel as they watched the popular Motion Picture Competitiveness Program pass in the state Senate, but die before reaching a vote in the House during budget wrangling last May. While supporters were confident there were sufficient votes to pass the bill (SB 5539) in…
The Best (and Worst) of 2011 in Seattle
Our editorial team taps into the latest and greatest our city has to offer.
It’s been a year of extraordinary changes in our city, from the explosive growth of Seattle’s best new neighborhood to the very green (and very micro) trends of pop-up, plug-in, nano- and repurposed everything. Never content with last year’s big thing, Seattleites are embracing the new and the next with their trademark stealth fervor. No…
Weird Yoga: Embrace Your Hang-ups
Aerial classes turn yoga on its head
January is the month for overly optimistic New Year’s resolutions, so why not dream big by signing up for an aerial yoga class? The exercise trend is taking wing all over the city, and involves airborne workouts similar to traditional yoga (focusing on core strength, flexibility and coordination) but performed while hanging from a ceiling-suspended…
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