University of Washington Special Collections -- Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition

In the summer of 1909, a world's fair, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, took place on the grounds of the University of Washington. The fair shaped the campus in ways that are visible today, creating the Rainier Vista and Drumheller Fountain. For many years, some of the former fair buildings were used by the University; today only Architecture Hall and Cunningham Hall remain. Landscaping for the fair was done by the famous firm of Olmsted Brothers, whose plan influenced all later designs for the campus.

A succession of world's fairs took place in the United States following the tremendous popularity of the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893. Local civic boosters successfully developed plans for such a fair in Seattle, intended to promote the region's economic and cultural ties to Alaska, the Canadian Northwest, and the Pacific Rim. The exposition opened on the grounds of the University of Washington on June 1, 1909.

Frank H. Nowell was the official photographer for the exposition. These photographs, as well as hundreds of others of the fair, can be found in the Special Collections Division of the University of Washington Libraries. Other research materials about the fair such as brochures, postcards, maps, guidebooks, and scrapbooks can also be found there.

Artist William Caughey created this birdseye view of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, looking to the southeast toward Mt. Rainier. Several University buildings are visible, such as Denny Hall and Parrington Hall in the right foreground. The University had moved from downtown Seattle to its present site in 1895, and most of the grounds were undeveloped before the exposition. Birdseye views were popular from the mid-nineteenth century until about 1920. UW 1378

Next Image

This Web exhibition copyrighted by the University of Washington Libraries. The exhibition may be used online, parts of it downloaded for personal use, or the URL for the exhibition may be included in another electronic document. For information on reproductions of the images and use guidelines click here or e-mail the Special Collections Division (photos@u.washington.edu).

For more images of the AYP Exposition, visit the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Photograph Collection at the UW Libraries Digital Initiatives site.


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The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition