Expo '74

Title

Expo '74

Description

Spokane's Expo '74 World's Fair focused on an environmental theme, an alternative to the traditional focus on technology. Spokane was the smallest city ever to host a world's fair, which many saw as a sign of potential failure. However, Expo's incredible success exceeded the expectations of even the fair organizers. By removing the eye-sore of a decaying railroad hub and leaving behind a beautiful riverfront park, Expo has had a lasting impact on the City of Spokane.

Collection Items

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#11)
Demolition of the Old Great Northern Depot and the railroad lines, February, 1973. The Count-Down sign on the part of the depot that will remain, the tower, indicates 450 days left until the opening.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#01)
U.S. Pavilion and Mexican Exhibit

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#02)
Demolition of the train trestle that crossed over the Monroe Street Bridge and the river before Expo.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#05)
Demolition along Trent Ave.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#06)
Construction with the clock tower in the background.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#07)
Construction buildings for Expo

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#09)
The two semi-circular base buildings of the United States Pavilion during construction. The vinyl canopy rose 150 feet on a steel center pole from these bases.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#10)
Work nears completion on the major buildings of the Expo '74 world's fair. In the foreground is the Washington State Pavilion, which will become a convention center when the fair ends its six-month run November 4. In the upper left are the two…

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#12)
Cleared of railroad yards and related industrial structures by 1973, the Expo '74 site still had a long way to go before the opening of the World's Fair. Construction had just started on the Washington State Pavilion at lower right. The old…

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#13)
Washington State Pavilion

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#14)
Tower view - Mexico, Japan and Taiwan exhibits.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#15)
Demolition of the old station at the center of the railroad yards that became Spokane's World's Fair site is shown here as it looked in February 1973. The Burlington Northern Tower, the only part of the station to remain, indicates 450 days to go…

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#16)
Building the Soviet and European Pavilions and the Washington Street couplet prior to Expo.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#17)
Clearing of the site for Expo: Note demolition in the foreground of one of the many two story buildings that lined Trent Ave (renamed Spokane Falls Blvd. for the fair).

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#18)
Showing construction site prior to Expo.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#19)
Workers doing construction at Expo

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#22)
International exhibits construction.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#23)
Work on the Opera house and Washington State Pavilion.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#25)
Washington State Pavilion

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#29)
Clearing the smaller island that was renamed Canada Island.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#30)
Construction on the IMAX movie screen of the U.S. Pavilion. The movie screen will be the largest in the world for use with a single projection source.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#39)
Women taking photographs near the Opera House

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#34)
Cleared of railroad yards and related industrial structures by 1973, the Expo '74 site still had a long way to go before the opening of the World's Fair. Construction had just started on the Wahington State Pavilion at lower right. The old Burlington…

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#35)
Laying sod at the U.S. Pavilion.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#36)
Demolition of the old station at the center of the railroad yards that became Spokane's World's Fair site is shown here as it looked in February 1973. The Great Northern Tower, the only part of the station to remain, indicates 450 days to go until…

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Construction (#37)
Washington State Pavilion.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Misc. (#10)
Color photo of an Expo parade float.

Spokane -- Expo '74 -- Misc. (#01)
San Francisco, Ca. delegation.
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