Friday, December 5, 2008

Online exhibit: Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, 1909

The Seattle Municipal Archives has recently posted an interesting online exhibit highlighting the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition, which was held in Seattle from June-October, 1909. The exhibit contains a number of images and documents digitized from the holdings of the Seattle Municip

"The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, held in Seattle from June 1 to October 16, followed on the heels of the 1906 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland, Oregon. Initial inspiration for the fair came from a group of Alaska's gold rush pioneers in 1905. In 1906, Seattle businessmen altered the original plan, postponed the 1907 date (so as not to conflict with the Jamestown, Virginia tricentennial celebration) until 1909, and sought financial support for an enlarged scope. The AYPE followed a tradition established in 1876 when Philadelphia held a Centennial Exposition. It was an opportunity for Seattleites to display pride in their heritage and their patriotism."