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. As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle's economic and cultural life. The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is now called Seattle Center.
This aerial photograph was taken October 22, 1961, during construction for the Exposition and shows the fairgrounds and downtown Seattle. Prominent in the frame is the Seattle Center Coliseum, built by the State of Washington to house its "World of Tomorrow" exhibit.
After the close of the Exposition the Pavilion was remodeled as the Washington State Coliseum (later Seattle Center Coliseum), and became home to the Seattle SuperSonics beginning with their inaugural season in 1967. The Seattle Storm has played there since 2000. Additionally, the Coliseum has hosted concerts by many famous artists, including the Beatles in 1964 and 1966, Metallica in 1989, and Prince in 2004. The Coliseum was rebuilt between 1994 and 1995, bringing the arena up to NBA standards of the day, and renamed KeyArena.
John Fraser Vallentyne (1928-2002) was an aerial photographer for The Boeing Co. and a staff photographer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in the 1950s-1960s.
Caption information source: "Seattle Neighborhoods: Seattle Center — Thumbnail History," Walt Crowley and Patrick McRoberts, http://www.historylink.org/File/1321 Caption information source: "John F. Vallentyne, photographer, dies at 74," by D. Parvaz, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 1, 2002
