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. The Coliseum was rebuilt between 1994 and 1995, bringing the arena up to NBA standards of the day, and renamed KeyArena.
!["Century 21 Exposition's 'world of the space age' theme building, the Coliseum 21, [being] built to house exhibits showing how man will work, live and play in the year 2000. It will be one of two Century 21 Exposition pavilions which are larger in size and scope than the American Pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair. The other: U.S. Science Pavilion, in which the Federal Government will display space age science." -Seattle World's Fair Public Relations Department. When the fair opened, the building was called the Washington State Coliseum. It is now Key Arena. Courtesy of MOHAI, Century 21 World's Fair Collection, 1965.3598.2.15](https://s.hdnux.com/photos/70/55/07/14864891/4/ratio3x2_1920.webp "\"Century 21 Exposition's 'world of the space age' theme building, the Coliseum 21, [being] built to house exhibits showing how man will work, live and play in the year 2000. It will be one of two Century 21 Exposition pavilions which are larger in size and scope than the American Pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair. The other: U.S. Science Pavilion, in which the Federal Government will display space age science.\" -Seattle World's Fair Public Relations Department. When the fair opened, the building was called the Washington State Coliseum. It is now Key Arena. Courtesy of MOHAI, Century 21 World's Fair Collection, 1965.3598.2.15")
"Century 21 Exposition's 'world of the space age' theme building, the Coliseum 21, [being] built to house exhibits showing how man will work, live and play in the year 2000. It will be one of two Century 21 Exposition pavilions which are larger in size and scope than the American Pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair. The other: U.S. Science Pavilion, in which the Federal Government will display space age science." -Seattle World's Fair Public Relations Department.
Aero-Machinists Union meeting inside the Coliseum, Seattle, 1965.
When the Beatles performed at the Seattle Center Coliseum in August 1964, nineteen-year-old photographer Timothy Eagan had an enviable view of the group from the edge of the stage. This vantage point gave Eagan the opportunity to photograph the four lads at relatively close range, as in this shot of Beatles founding member John Lennon. Eagan shot three rolls of film that night, practicing the photography which would become his professional career in Seattle and, later, New York City . In addition to a poised John Lennon, this photo shows the packed seating behind the stage. The sailors at lower right were among the one hundred Navy men from Pier 91 brought in at the last minute to help the police with security at the concert. Though the crowd behind the stage looks benign in this photo, a "child expert" who attended the concert reported in the Seattle Times the following day that "The experience of being with 14,000 teenagers to see the Beatles is unbelievable and frightening." Lennon, however, seems unperturbed by the din, and even by the jellybeans, marshmallows, and other items thrown at the band by the audience, which litter the stage at John's Beatle-boot clad feet.
Aerial view of the Seattle World's Fair grounds, 1962, including KeyArena.
Seattle was the third stop on the Beatles first official world tour. On August 21, 1964, the Fab Four played to a crowd of over 14,000 in the Coliseum at Seattle Center. The local paper reported that girls outnumbered boys by at least 20 to 1, and that most of these were young teenagers. As seen in this photograph, some parents came along as well, either to supervise their children or, as seems the case here, for their own enjoyment . Nineteen-year-old photographer Timothy Eagan, who grew up in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood, managed to score a press pass to the concert from family friend Ed Donohoe, editor of The Washington Teamster. The fearless teen elbowed his way up to the front of the stage to shoot three rolls of film. Here, Eagan captures the reactions of the audience just as the Beatles walked on stage. The audience had remained relatively calm throughout the performances of the four warm-up bands, but exploded into screams as the Beatles appeared. An article in the Seattle Times the following day, headlined "Beatles' Fan Stir Terrifying Noise, Danger" likened the experience to "being sealed in a crazed capsule pitching through the chasms of space" where "scenes beyond the worst horror movies unreeled without letup." In this photo, the crowd simply looks happy and excited.
Seattle's KeyArena, originally named the Washington State Pavilion, was built by the state to house the World of Tomorrow exhibit for the 1962 World's Fair (also Century 21 Exposition). After the fair closed, the city of Seattle bought the Pavilion, renamed it the Seattle Coliseum, and converted it into a convention, sports, and entertainment facility. After an extensive remodel in 1995, the building was reopened as KeyArena . This image shows the building during the remodeling in 1964, finished in time for the Vacation and Travel Show in June, and a performance by the Beatles on August 21.
International Fountain and Coliseum under construction, Seattle World's Fair, ca. 1961
KeyArena is one of those Seattle landmarks that feels like they've been around just as long as the city. The truth is it hasn't — not even the name is the original.
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What started out as the "Seattle Center Coliseum" during the World's Fair, became the home of the Seattle Sonics, and now serves as a concert venue and site of contention for those who would bring a basketball team back to Seattle.
But that classic slanted roof has been an epicenter for Seattle entertainment for decades now, and it's high time we looked back at how that's changed over the years.
Click through the slideshow above to see how KeyArena has looked — and changed — over the years.
