132 results for: Recreation
Ice ax used by Jim Whittaker on his summit of Mr. Everest, May 1, 1963
James W. (Jim) Whittaker (1929-2026) was the first American to summit Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth, alongside the Sherpa Nawang Gombu (a nephew of Tenzing Norgay). Whittaker graduated from West Seattle High School and Seattle University, and became the first full-time employee of Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)…
ID Number:2022.15.1
Date:Circa 1960
Nikon camera used by Jim Whittaker on his summit of Mr. Everest, May 1, 1963
James W. (Jim) Whittaker (1929-1926) was the first American to summit Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth, alongside the Sherpa Nawang Gombu (a nephew of Tenzing Norgay). Whittaker graduated from West Seattle High School and Seattle University, and became the first full-time employee of Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)…
ID Number:2022.15.2
Date:1962
Hubbard Medal presented to Jim Whittaker by President John F. Kennedy in honor of his summit of Mr. Everest, May 1, 1963
James W. (Jim) Whittaker (1929-1926) was the first American to summit Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth, alongside the Sherpa Nawang Gombu (a nephew of Tenzing Norgay). Whittaker graduated from West Seattle High School and Seattle University, and became the first full-time employee of Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)…
ID Number:2022.15.3
Date:1963
Miniature American flag carried by Jim Whittaker on his summit of Mr. Everest, May 1, 1963
James W. (Jim) Whittaker (1929-1926) was the first American to summit Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth, alongside the Sherpa Nawang Gombu (a nephew of Tenzing Norgay). Whittaker graduated from West Seattle High School and Seattle University, and became the first full-time employee of Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)…
ID Number:2022.15.4
Date:Circa 1960
Miniature National Geographic Society flag carried by Jim Whittaker on his summit of Mr. Everest, May 1, 1963
James W. (Jim) Whittaker (1929-1926) was the first American to summit Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth, alongside the Sherpa Nawang Gombu (a nephew of Tenzing Norgay). Whittaker graduated from West Seattle High School and Seattle University, and became the first full-time employee of Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)…
ID Number:2022.15.5
Date:Circa 1960
Trick water ski from Century 21, Seattle World's Fair, 1962
The Seattle World's Fair in 1962 featured a Ski Show that was sponsored by local beer distributor Olympia Brewing Company whose tagline was "It's the water." The water spectacular was held in the 12,600-seat Memorial Stadium where a 26-foot wide and four-foot high oval-shaped tank, or 'aquadome,' was built to contain 700,000 gallons of water. Shows featured high speed water…
ID Number:2023.9.1
Date:1962
Tilting rotational recreational device, "Billy Board," ca. 1990
The "Billy Board" is a recreational device designed by University of Washington civil engineer professor and inventor Dr. Billy Hartz (1927-2011). He was known for his work in finite element analysis and research on the dynamics of floating structures. The goal of the “Billy Board” is to improve balance. The top platform rotates and the whole device can be adjusted…
ID Number:2023.41.1
Date:Circa 1990
Bag from the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, 1989
Bill Nye (b. 1955) grew up in Washington D.C. and studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University. He moved to Seattle in the late 1970s to work for Boeing and later Sundstrand Data Control. While working as an engineer, he also became interested in standup and the local comedy scene. In the 1980s Nye worked as a writer and performer on…
ID Number:2024.39.Ref08
Date:1989
Swing from the Chong Wa Benevolent Association Chinese school playground, 1929
Established in 1892, the Chong Wa Benevolent Association was originally created to aid Chinese Americans with housing, employment, and to mediate disputes in the community. The Association constructed a building in 1929 at the corner of Seventh Avenue South and Weller Street to carry out these activities and house a school for Chinese American children. Today, it serves as a…
ID Number:2025.10.1
Date:1929
Fun Forest apron, ca. 2010
Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair included “The Gayway” which was an amusement park featuring 20 rides. It was located near the Monorail station and the base of the Space Needle. After the fair closed, the area became the “Fun Forest.” From 1962 to 2011 the Fun Forest entertained Seattleites and tourists with rides, carnival games, and concessions. This apron, with deep…
ID Number:2025.30.1
Date:Circa 2010