According to Paul Dorpat, Seattle’s iconic historian, in the introduction of the wonderful new book by Alan Stein and Paula Becker, Alaska-Yukon-Pacific-Exposition A Timeline History (published by Historylink), Seattle caught a lucky break back in 1907 when Jamestown, Virginia claimed that year for their tercentenary celebration. The event Seattle had planned to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Gold Rush (in 1897) was delayed and morphed into a much grander spectacle. Two extra planning years and a far more robust economy helped propel the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition into a rousing success for the nascent boomtown. Our city’s first world’s fair brought people from all over the world and as nearly every account mentions, “put Seattle on the map.”
Stein and Becker will discuss their new book at our Microsoft Auditorium on June 13, from 2-4 p.m. Historylink.org is the invaluable online encyclopedia for Washington State started by the late Walt Crowley, also a noted Seattle historian. The book is dedicated to Mr. Crowley. Continue reading “Seattle’s Coming Out Party”