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The Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition) opened on April 21 and closed six months later on October 21, 1962. The extensive fairgrounds required years of planning followed by a frenzy of major construction projects, some of which were completed just days before the fair opened. In the early 1960s, Seattle residents watched in fascination as the Space Needle and massive Coliseum (now Key Arena) took shape on a nondescript, 74-acre urban site just north of downtown. Unlike construction for most previous American expositions, the Seattle fairground buildings were part of a long range plan for a permanent civic center. During the fair, the principal buildings totaled almost 400,000 square feet of space. Some temporary structures were demolished shortly after the close, but others such as the Space Needle, Opera House and Coliseum became part of a lasting cultural legacy in Seattle.

The dramatic Space Needle became a visible symbol for the fair, and during construction was highly promoted with architectural models and drawings. The broad, diverse International Plaza near the Washington State Coliseum contained pavilions and exhibits from countries such as Canada, India, Japan, Sweden, France and Mexico. During the six-month run, nearly 10 million people visited the fair, including large numbers of proud, excited Seattleites.