Expo '74 was an environmentally themed world's fair in Spokane, Washington that ran from 4 May to 3 November 1974.
Spokane was the smallest city to host a world's fair until Knoxville, Tennessee held the 1982 World's Fair eight years later. The theme for Expo '74 was "Celebrating Tomorrow's Fresh New Environment." The heart of the fair park grounds was located on Canada Island, Havermale Island, and the adjacent south bank of the Spokane River in the center of the city. With the exception of two pavilions, all of the major buildings were modular structures assembled on the site. The fair had 5.2 million visitors and was considered a success, nearly breaking even, revitalizing the blighted urban core, and pumping an estimated $150 million into the local economy and surrounding region.
Among the many attractions, architectural critics were intrigued by the Australian Pavilion with its 36 screen revolving audio visual platform which quickly gained an underground reputation as the place to experience something different. (The artistic director for the project was film director Jonathan Dawson).
After the event closed, the exposition site became the city's 100 acre (400,000 m²) Riverfront Park, containing the former U.S. Pavilion and a clock tower (part of a Great Northern rail depot that was demolished for Expo '74), which prominently featured the park's logo.
Several structures built for the fair are still standing. The United States Pavilion still houses an IMAX theater built for the fair, as well as a winter ice rink that is put to other varied uses in the warm months. The "Sky Ride" chairlift from Expo '74 still stands as well, but not in its original place. It has since been moved to Adventureland theme park in Altoona, Iowa. The Washington State Pavilion still stands and is used as the Spokane Convention Center and the Opera House. The Carousel remains a popular attraction. It originated in Natatorium Park, which closed in 1967, and was restored for the World's Fair.[1]
The original covering of the US pavilion was a thick vinyl sheeting that was not designed to last. It was allowed to remain until it began to deteriorate, become unsightly and was thought a safety hazard. When the city opted to remove the covering, chunks of the thick vinyl could be purchased as keep-sakes. The tent design itself with its heavy cables was not intended to stay up, however the people of Spokane voiced the opinion that it should remain as a unique architectural statement, and a monument to the 1974 exposition.
| Preceded by Expo '70 |
World Expositions 1974 |
Succeeded by 1982 World's Fair |
   | Riverfront Park: Still an attraction 30 years after fair - Riverfront Park: Still an attraction 30 years after fair - Community |
| | A Virtual Visit to Expo '74 - A Virtual Visit to Expo '74, The Spokane World's Fair |
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