| 1974 Spokane, Washington | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| BIE-class | Specialized exposition |
| Name | Expo '74 |
| Motto | Progress without pollution |
| Area | 100 acres (40 ha) [2] |
| Visitors | 5,600,000[3] |
| Participant(s) | |
| Countries | 10[2] |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| City | Spokane, Washington |
| Venue | Present-day Riverfront Park, the legacy site of Expo '74 |
| Coordinates | 47°39′43.9″N 117°25′8.4″W / 47.662194°N 117.419000°W |
| Timeline | |
| Opening | May 4, 1974 |
| Closure | November 3, 1974 |
| Specialized expositions | |
| Previous | Expo 71 in Budapest |
| Next | Expo '75 in Okinawa |
| Universal expositions | |
| Previous | Expo '70 in Osaka |
| Next | Seville Expo '92 in Seville |
| Horticultural expositions | |
| Previous | Internationale Gartenbauausstellung 73 in Hamburg |
| Next | Floralies Internationales de Montréal in Montreal |
| Simultaneous | |
| Horticultural (AIPH) | Wiener Internationale Gartenschau 74 |
Expo '74, officially known as the International Exposition on the Environment, Spokane 1974,[3] was a world's fair held May 4, 1974, to November 3, 1974, in Spokane, Washington in the northwest United States.[2] It was the first environmentally themed world's fair[4] and attended by roughly 5.6 million people.[3] The heart of the fair park grounds was located on Canada Island, Havermale Island, and the adjacent south bank of the Spokane River, comprising present-day Riverfront Park, in the center of the city.[5]
With the exception of two pavilions, all of the major buildings were modular structures assembled on the site. The fair had 5.6 million visitors[3] 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.
In proclaiming itself the first exposition on an environmental theme, Expo '74 distanced itself from the more techno-centric world's fairs of the 1960s. The environmental theme was promoted in several high-profile events, such as a symposium on United Nations World Environment Day (June 5) attended by more than 1,200 people including many international representatives, and ECAFE Day for the United Nations Economic Council for Asia and the Far East (June 14) that discussed regional environment issues.[6]
- ^ "Expo '74 symbol selected". Spokesman-Review. March 12, 1972. p. 1.
- ^ a b c Kershner, Jim. "Expo '74: Spokane World's Fair". HistoryLink.org. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "1974 Spokane". Bureau International des Expositions. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ "1974 Spokane - The Expo". Bureau International des Expositions. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ Butler, Marv (March 6, 1979). "Pavilion still focal point". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (aerial photo). p. 1.
- ^ Bowers, Dawn (1974). Expo '74 World's Fair Spokane: Official Commemorative of the Spokane World Exposition 1974. Expo '74 Corporation.