Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (Seattle: lease, credit, home)

[guylocke]

I just happened to stumble upon this subject in Seattle Magazine, before which, I had never known such a thing ever existed!

I've tried to read up a little to see if this magnificent display still exists, it seems that some does, and a lot does not. What a shame, from these old pictures it looks like such an impressive marvel, almost reminiscent of the Vatican!

Does anyone know anything more about this or have modern pictures that show what still remains and what has changed? I wish I could have seen this way back at the beginning of last century.

[tudorjason]

The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition took place in 1909 and UW was built on the site. There have been many expos. Expos are sort of in the same category as a World's Fair.

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[guylocke]

Interesting, but did UW build ON the site, implying it was tore down to make room for the University or did the University simply incorporate a lot of the buildings into their campus?

Does any of it still exist? Why would they tear some of that stuff down, especially the fountain, it seems so historic.

[allforcats]

The poster tuborjason gave you an excellent resource, with answers to any of your questons. If you read the link you'll see that most of the structures were built to last for the duration of the expo.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, European and North American world's fairs and expositions were built to provide a marketing and explanatory venue for a week or a couple of months, then evidence of their presence was removed and the site was returned to its original state, sometimes, but not always, with the addition of a building or two, or a statue or two, from the event. For example, the 1939 World's Fair in New York was held in Flushing Meadows. One building was kept, and it became the home of the brand new United Nations after World War II, a permanent building. The 1964 World's Fair held in Flushing Meadows produced that massive steel globe that you've seen in the opening credits of "King of Queens", a permanent work of art.

As for why most of this expo was torn town, that's what expos and world fairs did. Consider the very short-term nature of their purposes, their budgets, land-use regulations, landowner requirements, lease conditions, goals, political goals, fashions in architecture, etc. etc. etc. Maybe you can find a specific answer in the link and its links.

[XXclimberX]

Originally Posted by guylocke

I just happened to stumble upon this subject in Seattle Magazine, before which, I had never known such a thing ever existed!

I've tried to read up a little to see if this magnificent display still exists, it seems that some does, and a lot does not. What a shame, from these old pictures it looks like such an impressive marvel, almost reminiscent of the Vatican!

Does anyone know anything more about this or have modern pictures that show what still remains and what has changed? I wish I could have seen this way back at the beginning of last century.

Those buildings are made out of casted material and were only temporary structures, they would not have lasted, and were tore down. The fountain was incorporated into the modern Univeristy of Washington though.