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Council recognizes Seattle Center’s World’s Fair commemoration
Summary
Center to begin celebration of Golden Anniversary of Seattle’s 1962 World Fair
Story
Helping the Seattle Center gear up for a six-month celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the Metropolitan King County Council recognized the Center for its legacy as the home of the 1962 World’s Fair. Councilmember Larry Phillips, whose district includes Seattle Center, presented the recognition to Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams and Seattle Center Foundation Executive Director Tracy Robinson during the Council’s March 7 meeting.
“Seattle Center has a special personal connection for most King County residents, as it serves as the region’s gathering place,” said Phillips. “One of my fondest connections to the center is watching children play in the fountain that my father originally designed. The center’s 50th Anniversary commemoration is an opportunity to reminisce about the rich history of Seattle Center and the World’s Fair, as well as envision the Center’s future.”
On April 21, 1962 the gates to Century 21 opened, and when the celebration ended on October 21, 1962, the World’s Fair had attracted 10 million visitors and introduced the Pacific Northwest to the world as the home of creative and practical solutions to our biggest challenges. Today, the 74-acre Seattle Center continues to prosper as our region’s premier urban park and cultural center. The World’s Fair and Seattle Center have brought five decades of economic, cultural, and social benefits to the region. Over 500 million people have visited the Seattle Center since 1962. Currently, Seattle Center annually welcomes 12 million visitors to nearly 500 programs and over 5,000 shows and events, generating $1.15 billion in business activity and $387 million in labor income for King County.
The center’s 50th Anniversary celebration will be focused on imagination, innovation, and involvement. As part of the commemoration, Seattle Center will be actively engaging the community in exploring, debating, and defining a collective vision for the next 50 years in eight key areas, including arts, culture, and design; sustainable futures; global health; science and technology; learning; commerce and the innovation economy; civic action; and history.
RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, in 1962, a group of passionate civic leaders and the community came together to host the Seattle World’s Fair, the Century 21 Exposition; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle World’s Fair attracted 10 million visitors and introduced the Pacific Northwest to the world as the home of creative and practical solutions to our biggest challenges; and
WHEREAS, the 74-acre Seattle Center was left as an intentional legacy of the Seattle World’s Fair and continues to prosper as our region’s premier urban park and cultural center; and
WHEREAS, the World’s Fair and Seattle Center have brought five decades of economic, cultural, and social benefits to the region, and over 500 million people have visited the Seattle Center since 1962; and
WHEREAS, currently, Seattle Center annually welcomes 12 million visitors to nearly 500 programs and over 5,000 shows and events, generating $1.15 billion in business activity and $387 million in labor income for King County; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Seattle Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary, a six-month celebration focused on imagination, innovation, and involvement; and
WHEREAS, as part of the commemoration, Seattle Center will be actively engaging our community in exploring, debating, and defining a collective vision for the next 50 years in eight key areas, including arts, culture, and design; sustainable futures; global health; science and technology; learning; commerce and the innovation economy; civic action; and history;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize the
SEATTLE CENTER
for its work to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1962 World’s Fair and for its leadership in envisioning ways for the Pacific Northwest to better our world for the next half century. We encourage all residents to join us in honoring the legacy of the Seattle World’s Fair and the value of the Seattle Center to our region.
DATED this seventh day of March, 2011.
Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams (l) and Seattle Center Foundation Executive Director Tracy Robinson (r) are joined by the members of the King County Council. The Council recognized the Center, which is preparing to celebrate its 50th Anniversary as well as the Golden Anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair.