Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition

In celebration of the opening of the Panama Canal, Seattle hosted the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. This event showcased the city’s progress, featuring exhibits on industry, culture, and technology. It left a lasting impact on Seattle’s urban planning, inspiring the creation of the University of Washington’s campus.

A world’s fair known as the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE) took place in Seattle from June 1 to October 16, 1909. The fair was initially set for 1907 to commemorate the Klondike Gold Rush’s 10th anniversary, but it was moved because of the Jamestown Exposition. The purpose of the fair was to highlight the area’s connections to Alaska, the Pacific Rim, and the Canadian Northwest on an economic and cultural level.