MYNORTHWEST HISTORY

Where were you in ’62?: We want your Seattle World’s Fair Memories!

Mar 29, 2022, 9:18 AM | Updated: 9:31 am

Seattle Fair, Spirit of '62...

Detail from 1962 Seattle World's Fair poster. (Courtesy MOHAI)

(Courtesy MOHAI)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. That’s a long time ago, but there are still thousands of people who remember the incredible six-month event at what’s now Seattle Center which transformed this region’s present and future – but that also was a pretty darned good carnival, too!

KIRO Newsradio and MyNorthwest are marking the 60th anniversary of the fair throughout much of 2022 as part of a project called Spirit of ’62.

There are plenty of official photos and film footage from the fair, but what we really want to hear and see are your personal stories and photos – or the stories you might collect from your older relatives who might not be as tech savvy.

Did you get lost among the carnival rides on the Gayway? Did you eat too many Belgian Waffles? Did you run into Elvis Presley making his movie? Did you meet your future spouse at one of the international pavilions? Did you bump into an astronaut at what’s now the Pacific Science Center? Get motion sick on the Monorail or a Space Needle elevator? Even if you went and just had a really good time, we want to hear all about it!

To share your Spirit of ’62 memories, please record a voice memo on your smartphone, and then email it to fbanel@kiroradio.com. If you have personal photos from the fair, please send those, too. If you aren’t able to record a voice memo, written memories are welcome as well.

We may use your recordings and photos in our radio and web coverage of the 60th anniversary.

You can hear Feliks every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattle’s Morning News, read more from him here, and subscribe to The Resident Historian Podcast here. If you have a story idea or a question about Northwest history, please email Feliks here.

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Where were you in ’62?: We want your Seattle World’s Fair Memories!