The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World’s Fair) was a world’s fair held April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962, in Seattle, Washington. Nearly 10 million people attended the fair.
As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle’s economic and cultural life. The fair saw the construction of the Space Needle and Alweg monorail, as well as several sports venues (Washington State Coliseum, now Climate Pledge Arena, currently under redevelopment) and performing arts buildings (the Playhouse, now the Cornish Playhouse), most of which have since been replaced or heavily remodeled. Unlike some other world’s fairs of its era, Century 21 made a profit.
The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is now called Seattle Center; the United States Science Pavilion is now the Pacific Science Center. Another notable Seattle Center building, the Museum of Pop Culture (earlier called EMP Museum), was built nearly 40 years later and designed to fit in with the fairground atmosphere.
These wonderful color photos from Cardboard America Archives that show what the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair looked like.
Buying flowers at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair
“Poodle or Death Every Time” – the monorail during the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair
A sailor walks by as a man on crutches enters the Pavilion of Electric Power at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair
A view of the gateway from the Union 76 Skyride at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair
Chun King Chinese food stand on the World’s Fair grounds during the 1962 World’s Fair
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