Weekly Move Update

As we move into May, the Library is getting the majority of our attention. This includes our Photo Archives, which total roughly 3 million photos. And by photos, I mean many different kinds, from glass plate negative (seriously, actual glass) to film based photos to born-digital photos.

You might also see that the 3-D artifacts that are getting packed were on display. You can tell why we are closing the Montlake location on June 7th. There won’t be too much more to see after that date!

Monday, April 30
Favorite: Rainier Man Beer Bottle Costume, c. 1975 (1999.64.47)
MOHAI		PSMHS
36	Items	0	Items
13	Cat #	0	Cat #
7	Boxe	0	Boxes
2	Crates	0	Crates
Library	206	Boxes

Tuesday, May 1
Eddie Bauer’s Stuffed Cougar (1965.3513)
MOHAI		PSMHS
22	Items	0	Items
48	Cat #	0	Cat #
14	Boxes	0	Boxes
2	Crates	0	Crates
Library	206	Boxes

Friday, May 4
Favorite: Black Satin Velour Top Hat, c.1920
MOHAI		PSMHS
124	Items	0	Items
80	Cat #	0	Cat #
27	Boxe	0	Boxes
0	Crates	0	Crates
Library	206	Boxes
	3	Drawers	Negatives

…Selling a Fair

Century 21, Seattle’s Space Age Fair, was conceived at first as a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Seattle’s first World’s Fair, The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909. Of course, plans like this quickly get bigger (software people call it feature creep, I believe) and as 1959 came and went, it was a future-loving, space and science-celebrating fair. Continue reading »

…the Space Needle

I’m sure you saw this coming. The Space Needle has been shorthand for Seattle since 1962. The dramatic centerpiece of a World’s Fair that thrust the city onto the world stage, the culmination of the U.S.’s obsession with a Utopian future in the 1950s and early 1960s (tempered with an obsession and fear of nuclear destruction. Check out this letter that was written by the 1962 City Council to their 2012 versions.)

The Space Needle, famously topped by the “Eye of the Needle” restaurant, was based on a doodle by Eddie Carlson a Seattle business leader and Chair of the Century 21 World’s Fair Commission, who organized the fair.

Maybe this year, the 50th Anniversary of the Century 21 Exposition, take another trip up the needle and imagine what the city looked like 50 years ago. Point out MOHAI’s new digs to your kids or friends and when you’ve descended, visit the Century 21 exhibit at the International Fountain Pavilion (the former Northwest Crafts Center at Seattle Center) and see artifacts and memorabilia from the Fair from MOHAI’s collections, curated by HistoryLink.org.

And with the Space Needle, we’ve finished our quick look at eight Seattle Icons and we’re going to start showing you all the great artifacts and stuff we have about Century 21, Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair. Hope you’ll stick around for the celebration!

Weekly Move Update

Enjoy the latest weekly move update. You can see that we have finished packing up the items for South Lake Union’s North Gallery.  We also had a change of pace this week as we packed the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society’s (PSMHS) items in the Library Annex and began packing the MOHAI Library and Archive collections.  Have a great week!

Monday, April 16
Favorite: Desktop, Maple, Made by Henry Van Asselt (1993.76.1)
MOHAI		PSMHS
6	Items	35	Boxes of PSMHS
6	Cat #		Library Annex
2	Boxe		Materials
2	Crates

Tuesday, April 17
Standing Mirror, 1875-1925 (1962.2512.9)
MOHAI		PSMHS
4	Items	36	Boxes of PSMHS
3	Cat #		Library Annex
4	Boxes		Materials
0	Crates

Wednesday, April 18
Favorite: Wax Figurine of Doc Maynard made by Lillian Smart, c.1955(/strong> (a2012.22.4)
MOHAI		PSMHS
73	Items	40	Boxes of PSMHS
23	Cat #		Library Annex
9	Boxe		Materials
2	Crates

Friday, April 20
Favorite: Frederick and Nelson Collection, MOHAI Library
MOHAI		PSMHS
2	Items	2	Items
2	Cat #	2	Cat #
0	Boxe	0	Boxes
1	Crates	1	Crates
19	Boxes of MOHAI Library Materials

…Floating Above Century 21

In the latest MOHAI Minute, Helen and Peder explore the most fun part of Century 21, Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair, the Gayway!

…Flying Fish

My parents love Pike Place Market (or Pike’s Place as they call it.) In fact, I don’t know many people who don’t love the Market. It is a Seattle Icon, where tourists mingle with long-time residents. Where fish are flung to everyone’s delight. Where an afternoon buying spices can become unforgettable by simply lounging in Victor Steinbrueck Park and people watching as the sun sets over the sound. Continue reading »

Weekly Move Update

We had a busy week packing up many of the artifacts to be installed in the new SLU exhibits. I think we are all excited to be working with the artifacts for the new museum!

Monday, April 9
Favorite: Two-man felling saw, c.1910 (1981.7351.14)
MOHAI		PSMHS
60	Items	0	Items
23	Cat #	0	Cat #
14	Boxe	0	Boxes
2	Crates	0	Crates

Tuesday, April 10
Melted cups and glass from the Seattle Fire (1954.763)
MOHAI		PSMHS
42	Items	0	Items
36	Cat #	0	Cat #
17	Boxes	0	Boxes
1	Crates	0	Crates

Wednesday, April 11
Favorite: Fire Chief’s Hat ((/strong> (1950.426.12)
MOHAI		PSMHS
65	Items	0	Items
41	Cat #	0	Cat #
24	Boxe	0	Boxes
0	Crates	0	Crates

Thursday, April 12
Favorite: Artillery Slug, 1907 (1965.3501.3a)
MOHAI		PSMHS
39	Items	0	Items
26	Cat #	0	Cat #
18	Boxe	0	Boxes
3	Crates	0	Crates

Friday, April 13
Favorite: Knight Templar Sword of Gov. J H McGraw, ca. 1930 (1956.1102.2)
MOHAI		PSMHS
95	Items	0	Items
25	Cat #	0	Cat #
15	Boxe	0	Boxes
2	Crates	0	Crates

…Getting There

Those of you who have read this blog a fair amount will not be surprised to learn that I love streetcars. Both the historic and the modern. I also love our bus system (which could be better) and Link.  And while all of these transportation systems have shaped Seattle, and the automobile has done its fair share, the transportation most associated with Seattle is the ferry.

Continue reading »

Weekly Move Update

Let’s be honest, it’s hard to beat moving Slo-Mo. Even so, our packing crew found a couple other neat artifacts to show off. But still, seeing the most famous hydroplane fly out of a second-story hole in the wall by crane takes the cake. Enjoy this week’s Move Update!

Monday, April 2
Favorite: Red Plastic Frisbee with MOHAI logo, c.1985 (2012.21.2)
MOHAI		PSMHS
4	Items	0	Items
4	Cat #	0	Cat #
2	Boxe	0	Boxes
1	Crates	0	Crates

Tuesday, April 3
Slo-Mo-Shun IV Hydroplane (1959.1701)
MOHAI		PSMHS
7	Items	0	Items
3	Cat #	0	Cat #
5	Boxes	0	Boxes
1	Crates	0	Crates

Wednesday, April 4
Tlingit Wooden “Kill Stick” (/strong> (1955.879h)
MOHAI		PSMHS
636	Items	0	Items
54	Cat #	0	Cat #
19	Boxe	0	Boxes
0	Crates	0	Crates

Thursday, April 5
Favorite: David Denny’s Pocket Watch, c.1850 (1961.2230)
MOHAI		PSMHS
93	Items	0	Items
82	Cat #	0	Cat #
25	Boxe	0	Boxes
1	Crates	0	Crates

Friday, April 6
Favorite: Colt .44 Caliber Revolver, c.1880 1969.5072.18)
MOHAI		PSMHS
88	Items	0	Items
55	Cat #	0	Cat #
20	Boxe	0	Boxes
2	Crates	0	Crates

…Painted on the Horizon

If you really think about it, Mount Rainier is pretty amazing. In good weather, she looks like she is painted on the horizon. It lends a magical pall over the city. It is comforting in a way to know it’s there, even when I can’t see it because of the clouds. Also, the dramatic photos of it are astounding!

Continue reading »