• Visit
    • Museum Accessibility
    • Community Access
    • Group Visits and Tours
    • Programs
      • History Café
      • MOHAI Mercantile Literary Series
      • First Thursday
      • Denny Lecture
      • Al Young Educator of the Year
      • Everyday Heroes
    • MOHAI Mercantile
    • Gourmondo at MOHAI
  • Exhibits
  • Events
  • Collections and Research
    • Collections Search
    • Themed Collections
    • Research Library
    • Image Ordering
    • Donate an Artifact
    • Curator’s Fellowship
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Membership at MOHAI
    • Gift Memberships
    • Corporate Support
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • Self-Guided School Year Explorations
      • Creating Our Community
      • Cracking the History Code: Salish Stories
      • Cracking the History Code: Settling Around the Sound
      • Hands on History
      • Self-Guided Summer Field Trips
      • Homeschool Group
    • Portable Museum Program
    • Scholarships
    • Education FAQ
    • Primary Source Analysis
    • Online Curricula
    • Teen Programs
    • Idea Lab
    • Discovery Packs
    • Summer Camps
  • About
    • Annual Reports
    • The MOHAI Blog
    • Contact MOHAI
    • Opportunities
    • Leadership
    • Private Events
  • Donate
  • Tickets
  • Membership
HomeCollections and ResearchCollections Search

Collections Search

Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

Download lower resolution images directly from an item page. MOHAI offers high-resolution digital reproductions of photographs and other materials from our collections for personal and professional use.

We have many more items in our collections and not everything you see online is on view at the museum. We have additional materials online at the University of Washington’s Digital Collections.

MOHAI Statement on Harmful Content

Search by Collection

Not finding what you are looking for?
Ask the MOHAI Collections Staff

107 results for: Century 21 Exposition (1962 World's Fair)

Share:
Image of Bolo tie with enamel pendant,

Bolo tie with enamel pendant, "Seattle World's Fair Gay Way 1962"

The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair) ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. Nearly 10 million people attended the fair. This bolo tie was worn by Guy Murren who worked in Engineering and Maintenance Services at the Fair. The Gayway was the space-oriented amusement zone and featured 20 rides which were either brand…
ID Number:2023.9.2
Date:1962
Image of Souvenir pearl from the Japanese Village at the Seattle World's Fair, 1962

Souvenir pearl from the Japanese Village at the Seattle World's Fair, 1962

This is a souvenir pearl from the Japanese Village at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle. One of the main attractions was a live demonstration of pearl diving by six female divers from the Iseshima pearl area near Nagoya, Japan. The divers would bring up pearls from a 12-foot pool and sell them to spectators for $1.25 each. The Japanese…
ID Number:2023.19.2
Date:1962
Image of Child's sweatshirt, souvenir from the Seattle World's Fair, ca. 1962

Child's sweatshirt, souvenir from the Seattle World's Fair, ca. 1962

This child-sized sweatshirt was made as a souvenir for the Century 21 World’s Fair in 1962. It includes the official logo for the fair, an illustration of the Space Needle, and other buildings and scenes from the fair.
ID Number:2023.Sweatshirt
Date:1962
Image of Handheld battery powered fan from the Seattle World's Fair, 1962

Handheld battery powered fan from the Seattle World's Fair, 1962

The MOHAI collection contains an abundant number of souvenirs, tickets, photos, and other ephemera from Century 21, Seattle World's Fair in 1962. This fan was purchased by the donor's husband when he attended the Fair and it still works!
ID Number:2024.19.1
Date:1962
Image of Space Needle elevator operator uniform, designed and worn by Joan Gellermann Seiler Nykreim, 1962

Space Needle elevator operator uniform, designed and worn by Joan Gellermann Seiler Nykreim, 1962

In 1962 Joan Gellermann Seiler answered a newspaper ad for women to work at the Space Needle during the World’s Fair. She initially thought it would be a modeling job, but discovered it was for elevator operators. The Needle specifically wanted tall women to match the theme of this new towering building, and Joan was a perfect recruit at 6’1”.…
ID Number:2024.43.1
Date:1962
Image of Seattle World's Fair print skirt, 1962

Seattle World's Fair print skirt, 1962

This skirt is printed with a delightful pattern that celebrates the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle. It features images of the Space Needle, Monorail, arches of the US Science Pavilion, and plumes of water spraying from the International Fountain. Gerry Abbott, who also created fashion illustrations for the Seattle Times, drew sketches for the pattern. The skirt is from a…
ID Number:2024.51.1
Date:1962
Image of Italian mosaic pin from the Jewels of the World Pavilion, Seattle World's Fair, 1962

Italian mosaic pin from the Jewels of the World Pavilion, Seattle World's Fair, 1962

The MOHAI collection contains an abundant number of souvenirs, tickets, photos, and other ephemera from Century 21, Seattle World's Fair in 1962. This Italian mosaic pin was purchased at the Jewels of the World Pavilion for $1.12.
ID Number:2025.25.2
Date:1962
Previous 1 … 9 10 11

Land Acknowledgement

MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126
  • Plan a Visit
  • Directions and Parking
  • Accessibility
  • Group Tours
  • About

Sign up to Receive our Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright 2026, Museum of History & Industry. All Rights Reserved