Ewen C. Dingwall Century 21 Exposition photograph collection, 1962

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Dingwall, Ewen C., 1913-1996
Title
Ewen C. Dingwall Century 21 Exposition photograph collection
Dates
1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
19 photographic prints, 78 slides (1 box, 1 folder)
Collection Number
PH0463
Summary
Photographs of the 1962 Century 21 Exposition (World's Fair) in Seattle
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Selections from the collection can be viewed on the Libraries Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view original photographs. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Ewen Dingwall was justifiably called the mastermind of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Born in 1913, Dingwall graduated from the University of Washington in 1939. He spent much of his early career working for "good government" groups such as the Seattle Municipal League and the Washington Research Council. He also served as assistant to Seattle Mayor William Devin. When the state legislature created Century 21 Exposition, Inc. in 1957, city and state officials picked Dingwall to head the project. He was appointed Vice-President and Executive Director of the Century 21 Exposition and Executive Director of the Seattle Civic Center Advisory Board.

The World's Fair was originally the brain-child of Seattle businessmen and civic leaders who wanted to revitalize downtown and provide it with amenities to lure shoppers away from growing suburban shopping complexes. Dingwall and his planners thus quickly settled on the Warren neighborhood, just outside of downtown, as the site of the fair. Arts activists, realizing that buildings used for the exposition could later be turned into playhouses and museums, soon joined downtown businessmen in promoting the fair.

Dingwall and other planners initially thought that the Century 21 Exposition would have a "Festival of the West" theme, but the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in late 1957 changed that. The start of the space race, combined with the fact that America had not had a World's Fair in over 20 years, led federal officials to use the Seattle fair to highlight America's scientific and technical achievements. Dingwall quickly realized that a scientific, futuristic theme would draw larger crowds and attract more federal support. Thus the Century 21 Exposition became "America's Space Age World's Fair." Senator Warren Magnuson promoted the project in Congress and won $10 million appropriation to build the centerpiece of the exposition, the U.S. Science Exhibit, which became the Pacific Science Center after the fair. The U.S. Science Exhibit and most other exhibits portrayed science and technology as creative endeavors which made life better, promoted understanding between nations, and led toward world peace. (Ironically, this optimistic vision took a severe jolt the day after the fair closed, when President Kennedy blockaded Cuba and announced that the Soviets had placed atomic missiles there.) Dingwall convinced most of the participating states, nations, and corporations to send exhibits which related to the scientific theme. The fair planners also decided to build two "futuristic" structures that would later become Seattle landmarks: the Space Needle and the Monorail.

Although the 1962 Seattle World's Fair was small by the standards of the earlier World's Fairs, occupying only 76 acres and drawing 9.6 million visitors, it was very successful. Unlike most World's Fairs, the Seattle exposition produced a profit. Furthermore, the fair provided a substantial boost to the local economy that extended beyond 1962. More tourists visited Seattle and more businesses opened regional offices in the city in the years immediately after the fair. The remodeling of the fairgrounds also gave the city one of the largest civic centers in the nation, the Seattle Center. While the Seattle Center did not help downtown stores compete with suburban retailers in the long run, it still provided many benefits. The remodeled fairgrounds included three playhouses, an opera house, and an exhibit hall. Additionally, the Seattle Center Coliseum was crucial to Seattle's successful bid to obtain its first major-league sports team, the SuperSonics.

Dingwall moved to Washington, DC in 1964 and worked as a consultant for a number of other expositions. He returned to Seattle and renewed his ties in the area that he had helped build when he became temporary director of the Pacific Science Center for most of 1977. In 1982, when the Seattle Center went almost $1 million in debt, the City Council fired Seattle Center Director Jack Fearey and picked Dingwall to replace him. Dingwall improved the Center's financial situation but ran into criticism for hiring Disney to make plans to turn the Seattle Center into a theme park; he resigned in 1988.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs and slides of the 1962 Century 21 Exposition (World's Fair) in Seattle including some pre-construction and construction images.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Donnie Jewell, August 28, 1995.

Processing Note

Processed by Tori Hanson; processing completed in 2017.

The photographs were relocated from the Ewen C. Dingwall Papers, Manuscripts Accession No. 0420-003 in the repository, on August 28, 1995.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Ewen C. Dingwall papers (Mss Coll 0420)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Seattle SkylineReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
box:oversize item
XE2 1
Seattle skyline
Josef Scaylea (photographer)
Printed on photo: Presented to E.C. Dingwall by the Seattle Times. Views of the Seattle skyline morning of January 12, 1962.
January 12, 1962

Pre-Construction and Construction of the Seattle World's FairReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Slides and photographs of pre-construction fair location
Box/Folder item
1/1 S2
Warren Avenue School
Webster & Stevens, Seattle (photographer)
circa 1959
1/1 S3
Buildings on Allen Street
Webster & Stevens, Seattle (photographer)
circa 1959
1/1 S4
Empty lot and buildings
Webster & Stevens, Seattle (photographer)
circa 1959
1/1 S5
Ice Arena before renovation
Webster & Stevens, Seattle (photographer)
circa 1959
1/1 S6
Opera house before renovations
Webster & Stevens, Seattle (photographer)
circa 1959
box-folder:oversize
1/3 7 circa 1959-1962
Box/Folder
1/1 S8 circa 1959-1962
Construction slides
Box/Folder item
1/1 S9
Beginning of site demolition
Webster & Stevens, Seattle (photographer)
1959
1/1 S10 circa 1959-1962
1/1 S11 circa 1959-1962
1/1 S12 circa 1959-1962
1/1 S13 circa 1959-1962
1/1 S14 circa 1961
1/1 S15 circa 1959-1962
1/1 S16 circa 1959-62
1/1 S17 circa 1959-1962
1/1 S18 circa 1959-1962
1/1 S19
View from underneath science center arch
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1959-1962
Construction photographs
box:oversize item
XE2 20 circa 1962
XE2 21 circa 1962
XE2 22 circa 1962
Box/Folder
1/2 23 circa 1962
1/2 24 circa1962

Scenes of the Seattle World's FairReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Publicity Photographs at the World's Fair
Box/Folder item
1/3 25
Joseph Gandy and David Ormsby-Gore shaking hands with Ewen Dingwall next to them
Seattle World's Fair, Public Relations Department (photographer)
From attached material: Seattle, Washington - British Ambassador Sir David Ormsby-Gore shakes hands with President Joseph Gandy of the Seattle World's Fair: Managing Director Ewen Dingwall looks on. The Ambassador arrived to begin British week festivities at the Seattle World's Fair.
circa 1962
1/3 26 circa 1962
1/3 27 circa 1962
Views of the World's Fair
Box/Folder item
1/4 28 circa 1962
1/4 29 circa 1962
1/4 30 circa 1962
1/5 31 circa 1962
1/5 32 circa 1962
1/5 33 circa 1962
1/6 34
Arches of the United States Science Pavilion at night
Designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki.
circa 1962
1/6 35 circa 1962
Slides of the Seattle World's Fair
Box/Folder item
1/1 S36 circa 1962
1/1 S37-S38 circa 1962
1/1 S39
East gate entrance of the Seattle World's Fair
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S40
South gate and Space Needle
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S41
Space Needle with helicopter above
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S42
Space Needle from helicopter
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S43
View looking up at the Space Needle
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S44
Space Needle and Information Center
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S45
Space Needle and Electrocars
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S46
Aerial view of World's Fair
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S47
View looking north from top of Space Needle
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S48 circa 1962
1/1 S49
Aerial view of the Space Needle
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S50
Close up of top of the Space Needle
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S51
U.S. Science Building arches and Space Needle
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S52
Space Needle from U.S. Science Building
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S53
U.S. Science building
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S54
Court of the U.S. Science Pavilion
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S55
Space gothic arches
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S56
Seattle International Fountain
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S57-S58
International Fountain
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S59
Space Needle elevator at base
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S60
Space Needle elevator going up
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S61
Interior of Eye of the Needle restaurant
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S62
Floating hotel Dominion Monarch
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S63
Floating hotel Acapulco
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S64
Monorail and Space Wheel
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S65
Monorail trains
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S66
Crowds in Friendship Mall
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S67
Amusement area, Gayway 21
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S68
Rides on Gayway
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S69
Sky ride on Gayway
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S70
Wild Mouse Ride
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S71
Hydroelectric exhibit and elevator
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S72
General Electric exhibit
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S73
NASA space exhibit
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S74
Lobby of opera house
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S75
Gracie Hansen's Paradise International
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S76
Plaza of States
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S77
Shops of all nations
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S78
Horiuchi ceramic mural
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S79
Skyride and International Mall
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S80
International Mall
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S81
Aerial view of the International Mall
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S82
Indian village
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S83
United Arab Republic exhibit
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S84
Great Britain exhibit
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S85
Space Needle viewed from Canada exhibit
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S86
Japanese Pavilion
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S87
Thailand shop
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S88
World's Fair and Seattle at night
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S89
Night view of top of the Space Needle
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S90
Night view of Space Needle
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S91
Night view of the World's fair
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S92
Gayway 21 at night
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S93
U.S. Science building at night
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S94
Arches of Science Pavilion at night
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S95
Space Arches at night
Morley Studios (photographer)
circa 1962
1/1 S96
Space Arches and Space Needle at night
Sawyer's, Inc (photographer)
circa 1962

EphemeraReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
box:oversize item
XE2 97
Newspaper article about the World's Fair in Seattle
Mounted on board.
circa 1962

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Exhibitions--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Exhibitions--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Space Needle (Seattle, Wash.)--Design and construction--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Dingwall, Ewen C. 1913-1996--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)--Buildings--Photographs
  • Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)--History--Sources

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs
  • Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.)--Design and construction--Photographs