Inlander VisitSpokane Expo '74 50th Commemorative Edition 05/02/2024

Came to Town When the World

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The Spokane Story

In 1974, Spokane stuck the landing on one of the most audacious urban renewal schemes in American history

The story of Expo ’74 is packed with dramatic chapters, narrative rabbit holes, heroes like the guy who went by “King,” odd icons like the Garbage Goat and gifts that keep on giving like the U.S. Pavilion and Spokane Opera House. It’s so sprawling, it can feel more like a dream than actual history. We’ve collected a bunch of those tales here as we mark 50 years since the biggest thing Spokane ever did.

Before you jump in, consider a little context. The unvarnished truth is that in the 1960s Spokane was at a crossroads. The early years of the settlement saw spectacular growth, with the population nearly tripling between 1900 and 1910. Eventually, however, Spokane started to stagnate. By 1970, 11,000 fewer people lived in Spokane than in 1960. It was a civic gut check, with profound, existential questions confronting citizens. Could Spokane keep up with the Portlands and Seattles of the world? Would downtown become a hollow shell of its once-lively self? Would all the children have to move somewhere else?

Spokane’s civic brain trust, driven more or less by panic, had to do something. What’s special about our city and its downtown, they started wondering, that could secure its future? Nobody had a great answer.

City leaders started asking experts for advice; then they hired King Cole to be their guide. But there were more heroes, including businessmen like Jim Cowles, John Hieber, Rod Lindsay, Phil Stanton, Luke Williams and many others who made miracles happen (while holding full-time jobs); elected officials like U.S. senators Henry Jackson and Warren Magnuson, future Speaker of the House Tom Foley along with mayors past (Neal Fosseen), present (David Rodgers) and future (Jim Chase, Vicki McNeill, Jack Geraghty) also got behind celebrating and protecting the Spokane River Falls, the sacred place where local tribes going back thousands of years gathered.

The moon shot that was Expo ’74 is a masterclass in civic inspiration and activation.

Read on and you’ll see a direct line between those crazy Expo dreamers and the quality of life we enjoy today. Of course the need to tend to a better future didn’t end in 1974 — that responsibility lands on every generation’s doorstep. So when we meet our own difficult crossroads, let’s learn from their example: be bold, use our imagination, pitch in and meet the moment.

— TED S. McGREGOR JR.

ON THE COVER

The beautiful watercolor of the Expo ’74 fairgrounds you see on the front cover of this commemorative edition is by Spokane artist KEITH OKA (1916-2006). A Japanese-American who was interned during World War II at Camp Minidoka near Pocatello, Idaho, Oka settled in Spokane after his release and began his career in art and advertising. One of his friends — and a fellow prisoner — was Ed Tsutakawa, who would go on to become one of Spokane’s leading citizens. Tsutakawa told the Inlander in 2001 that he only decided to settle in Spokane after attending Oka’s wedding here. Tsutakawa pushed hard to have his own dream project open just in time for the world’s fair. And Manito Park’s Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden opened to the public in May of 1974. You’ll see more of Oka’s work throughout these pages, including on the bottom of this page, courtesy of the Spokane Public Library’s Northwest Room. Special thanks to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture; their Expo Collection is on display throughout these pages, including the image below of the fairgrounds at night.

Some things from 1974 have aged better than others.

Leisure suits? Not so much. Riverfront Park? Now we’re talkin’. Congratulations, Spokane. You’ve never looked better. stcu.org | Here for good.TM

DARE TO DREAM

King Cole: Tenacious‘ASoul’

The Expo mastermind’s work to renew Spokane’s urban core took him all over the world; the city wouldn’t be the same without King Cole’s vision

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

Those who’ve heard of King Cole likely know that he and his family moved to Spokane in the mid1960s to help with business-led efforts to reinvigorate the city’s downtown. Cole, after all, was an urban planner who’d worked to revitalize the waterfront in San Leandro near Oakland in the Bay Area, and the business community in Spokane wanted his expertise to help fix up Spokane’s own riverfront.

Cole was brought on board after Spokane voters

rejected two bond pitches in 1962 that would have built a new City Hall and paid for upgrades in downtown’s polluted and run-down industrial areas. Later on, he was key in suggesting the city host a World’s Fair Exposition.

Cole knew that Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair had brought futuristic buildings (such as the Space Needle), new ideas and plenty of investment into the largest city in the state. He dared to believe that Spokane, which was coming up on its centennial and only had about 180,000

residents at the time, could pull off something similar.

But interestingly, those planning years weren’t when Cole first fell in love with Spokane.

In the early 1940s, during World War II, Cole was trained at the Farragut Naval Training Station — now Farragut State Park — on Lake Pend Oreille. While on leave, he went to a USO dance in Spokane and met a girl who took him on the trolley up to her parents’ home on the South Hill, says Nancy Cole, one of Cole’s eight children.

Friends in high places: King Cole (at the billboard), future Speaker of the House Tom Foley (lower right), Mayor David Rodgers and powerful U.S. Sen. Warren Magnuson (lower left).

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTOS

King and Jan Cole

The family of King Cole will be the honorary grand marshals of the 2024 Lilac Parade at 7:30 pm, Saturday, May 18, in downtown Spokane. Fittingly, the theme of this year’s Lilac Festival is “Dare to Dream.”

“It was snowing by Manito Park, and he thought, ‘This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, I’m going to come back and live here,’” Nancy says.

She notes that, luckily for her and her siblings, things didn’t work out with that girl, and their dad later met their mom, Jan, who became his biggest supporter.

Mary Cole, another of the Cole daughters who still lives in Spokane, says that while her dad was traveling to pitch urban renewal ideas and ensure Spokane could host Expo ’74, Jan held things together, raising the kids and helping him stay organized, even when he was on the other side of the world.

“She kept him going,” Mary says. “He couldn’t find anything. He’d be in Europe and he’d call my mom and say, ‘Jan, where did you put my such-and-such?’”

Nancy agrees, noting that while their dad was an extrovert, traveling for weeks at a time to promote Spokane and the fair, their mom was an introvert. She didn’t like to dance in front of other people, but that didn’t stop her from hosting many lively dinner parties once Expo was underway.

“What I saw her do was connect people,” Nancy says. “She’d always go for the person who had no one talking to them, find out something about them, and connect them with somebody else.”

One of the parties that Mary remembers best was during opening weekend, after a symphony performance conducted by Zubin Mehta of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra. Among the entourage that ended up at the Cole family home for a “midnight breakfast” were Mehta and actor Danny Kaye, who’d starred in White Christmas alongside the Spokane-raised Bing Crosby.

Six of the Cole children were still at home by the time of the fair, including Mary, who was 20 years old. She was shy, like their mom, and as the kids were introduced one after the other, she says she was nervous to meet Kaye. But when she told him her name was “just Mary,” the handsome actor replied, “Mary, a common name for an uncommon girl.”

Photos from that night were featured in the 12thever issue of People magazine, which had just launched in March 1974. In the May 20 edition, the magazine included a spread titled “King Cole is a Tenacious Soul.”

The article described Cole as an “indefatigable optimist” and noted that he “lives up to the nursery rhyme,” though “being a merry soul wasn’t… enough to get the fair underway.” That took determination and “four rough years” of planning.

THE FALLS AT THE HEART OF IT ALL

As local historian Bill Youngs would later write in The Fair and the Falls, Cole knew that Spokane Falls was one of the city’s most undercelebrated assets, and something that could bring people back to engage with the city’s core. Youngs interviewed Cole on numerous occasions in the early 1990s while working on the book.

Getting people to the core would require removing old railroad infrastructure, industrial sites and more. Youngs writes that the city started working with the railroads and other property owners to condemn or buy the land along the river in 1969 and 1970.

At the same time, Cole knew it would also take more than just some cleanup to revitalize the city. He pitched building a National Monument near the falls, but that plan didn’t get enough support when Cole and city leaders visited the other Washington. But they did win some influence with some of the supporters who would be key to bringing together the fair, including U.S. Rep. Tom Foley, who later became speaker of the House, and Sen. Warren Magnuson. Cole and business leaders figured a fair in 1974, while ambitious, could also mark the city’s 100th

birthday.

Cole traveled to France repeatedly to ensure that the international committee would approve the fair in Spokane, and elsewhere to get other countries on board.

Nancy and Mary say their dad was a polyglot — in addition to English he spoke Italian, French, Spanish, Latin and a little bit of Russian. As a devout Catholic, he’d studied to become a priest in his late teen years, which the women say likely helped with his skills in the Romantic languages.

At one point in the early ’70s, before the fair, he and Jan were invited to visit the Shah and queen of Iran, Mary says. Iran was one of many countries to participate in Expo, during a time when the U.S. was closely allied with the monarch. (The Iran hostage situation wouldn’t happen until 1979.)

One of the things that stood out about Cole’s personality was his ability to keep track of the names on a seemingly endless list of people who worked to pull Expo together. Not only could he remember the name of every single person he saw working at the fair, but he could ask specific questions about their wives and kids, Mary says.

“He would treat the maintenance worker like he would a celebrity,” she says. “He was gregarious, thoughtful and had a lot of passion and perseverance.”

LASTING LEGACY

When the time finally came for the first day of the fair, which hosted events from May to November, the 52-year-old Cole was like a giddy little kid, Mary says.

“He got about four hours of sleep, we all did,” she says. “That morning of the opening it was just gorgeous, beautiful.”

While organizers hoped they’d simply break even by the time the fair opened, it was ultimately wildly successful, with more than 5 million visitors making their way to Spokane.

Though Cole was something of a local celebrity during that time and spoke often at events throughout the fair — something Nancy says she got to admire on many occasions as a Lilac Princess that year — he never wanted to take quick credit for all the work that was done, Mary says.

“He was very, very adamant that others were part of it as well,” she says. “He didn’t want to be the main guy, but he had to be.”

It was a magical time to be a part of all of that, Mary adds: “You just don’t know what an impact it would make until you look at things after the fact.”

Cole was a naturalist, and spiritual, and he was interested in making sure his children and grandchildren could live in a world free from a lot of the toxic things that were out there, Mary says. Not only did the preparation for the fair transform the area around those beautiful falls and along the Spokane River, but it left Riverfront Park as a clean and striking way to interact with the heart of the city.

While Jan died in 2017, King passed in 2010. At King Cole’s funeral, one speaker drew a comparison to It’s a Wonderful Life, asking, “What would Spokane be like if King wasn’t here?”

“That kind of blew us all away,” Mary says. “That’s what everybody wants. They want to be able to leave this world and have some sort of a lasting legacy. … [My dad] had the smarts, he just knew what to do, and how to get it done, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

NATIONS, STATES AND PROVINCES EXHIBITING AT EXPO ’74

THE WORLD — AND THE REGION — SET UP SHOP FOR THE SEASON

Australia

Canada

Federal Republic of Germany

Iran

Japan

Republic of China

Republic of Korea

Republic of the Philippines

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

United States of America

Alberta

British Columbia

Idaho

Montana

Nevada

Oregon

Washington

OPENING DAY: MAY 4, 1974

A crowd equalling half the population of Spokane gathered for the big day.

‘A Fantastic Achievement’

On May 4, 1974, the team behind bringing the World’s Fair to Spokane turned the impossible into a triumph

BY BILL YOUNGS

EWU history professor and author of the definitive history of Expo ’74, The Fair and the Falls

Numbers on the Great Northern Clock Tower high above Havermale Island counted down relentlessly to single digits, heralding the approach of Opening Day for Spokane’s Expo ’74. The numbers were unstoppable — they had been recording the passage of days for more than a year.

But for the Expo workers on the ground, the approach of Opening Day on May 4, 1974, was a time of frantic activity — and persistent anxiety. Spokane was about to become the smallest city ever to host a World’s Fair — if they could do it!

Perhaps Expo President King Cole described the enormous task of building the Exposition best: “We not only had some impossible tasks, but we had some impossible timetables.”

Line up approval in Washington, D.C., and Olympia? Check. Gain international approval in Paris? Check. Attract foreign and domestic exhibitors? Check. Raise funds in Spokane for the event? No check at first, but eventually, check. Persuade President Richard Nixon to open the Fair. Check. Construct the fairgrounds — that was a real nail-biter in the blur of those last days.

The pressures registered on everyone involved. Expo planner and later-to-be-Mayor Jack Geraghty had nightmares in which the fair never opened — or worse, as he recalled: “I actually had a dream that it opened and there were two or three portable hot-dog stands, and that’s all there was for the people to see!”

Workers on the fairgrounds lived through an actual nightmare — having to lay sod on bare ground through the early morning hours of May 4.

Then Opening Day arrived, and it was a triumph. Eightyfive thousand people flocked to the fairgrounds. On a floating stage in front of the new Washington State Pavilion (aka, the Opera House), dignitaries assembled. Beloved entertainer Danny Kaye read the environmentally themed “Expo Credo.” King Cole, the president of the Fair and its chief visionary, was introduced — the crowd gave him the one standing ovation of the day. President Nixon praised Spokane for its “spirit of individual enterprise.” Then he declared that Expo ’74 was “officially open to all the citizens of the world.”

Hot air balloons rose above the fairgrounds, 1,000 carrier pigeons exploded from cages and flew past the site; hundreds of trout were released into the Spokane River; barges with foreign dignitaries floated downstream and tied up to the stage. Bureau of International Expositions President Max Troendle, in Spokane for Opening Day, took his impressions back to Paris. “This Exposition,” he reported, “is a fantastic achievement.”

He was right — and Opening Day was just the beginning!

Join the City of Spokane as we celebrate the vibrant spirit of Expo ’74 during the Expo 50th Celebration. Led by Kelly Brown and Matt Santangelo, businesses, organizations, and community members have come together to organize an exciting calendar of events, with each event falling into one of the five categories mirroring the original key pillars: the Expo Legacy, Environmental Stewardship, Tribal Culture, Recreation & Sport, and Arts & Culture.

EXPO LEGACY In 1974, Spokane broke records by becoming the smallest city in history to host the World’s Fair. The spotlight was turned not only to the Northwest, but on the environment, as Expo ’74 was also the first environmentally focused World’s Fair. The World’s Fair changed the trajectory of this place and has allowed it to flourish. Millions visited Spokane and sparked its rise into the catalyst for the region’s sustainable growth.

There is much to learn from Expo ’74 and 50 years on, we see the impacts left on the city. Some physical, like a butterfly or a hungry goat, others you can feel when you walk through a place like Riverfront Park.

As we look into the future, this celebration aims to reignite the nostalgia of this international milestone in Spokane’s history. This event meant many things to different people and celebrating this anniversary allows for a reflection into the past and a showcase of what has changed since. It also invites new generations to carry on the mantle of creating a cleaner and brighter tomorrow and to show how important this event was to this area. The legacy of Expo ’74 is worth celebrating and is a powerful reminder to what this community is capable of.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Kerry Lynch, Ben Stuckart

more on The Five Pillars, next page

Expo Merch, 2024-Style

The 1974 World’s Fair was known for its amazing souvenirs, many of which you can still find in homes across the region. The 50th anniversary will be no different, with some of our best local makers offering all kinds of memorabilia; shirts and hoodies from the Great PNW; custom cookies from Breauxdoo; candy bars from Spokandy; Dry Fly Whiskey in a Chris Bovey-designed bottle (available at Dry Fly only); custom wine from Townshend Cellars; coffee from Indaba and Lilac City Coffee; and Expo logo-themed water bottles, pint glasses and stuffed animals. Find them at the Carrousel Gift Shop and at the Official Expo Merchandise Tent during some Expo 50 events.

Small City, Giant Dreams

Welcome to the Expo 50 celebration!

BY SPOKANE MAYOR LISA BROWN

Fifty years ago, Spokane dared to dream big.

The Expo ’74 celebration marked a defining moment in our city’s history, drawing more than 5 million visitors and etching our name as the smallest city to host a World’s Fair.

Now, half a century later, Spokane is again opening its arms to people from both near and far to join us in commemorating the remarkable strides made since that historic celebration.

Spokane has undergone significant transformations since 1974. Our city has seen new infrastructure, economic growth and a renewed focus on sustainability. One of the most notable changes is the revitalization of Riverfront Park, which was the site of Expo ’74 and will once again be a focal point throughout this summer.

The 50th anniversary celebration echoes Expo ’74’s theme of environmental stewardship, while also putting a spotlight on Spokane’s commitment to four additional pillars: Expo legacy, tribal culture, recreation and sport, and arts and culture.

These pillars embody the essence of Spokane’s rich tapestry of values. They are reflective of our commitment to preserving our natural heritage and fostering sustainable practices, honoring the diverse traditions and contributions of tribal communities, and showcasing our pride in the impact of Expo ’74 on our community.

Whether you are here to reminisce or explore for the first time, I hope you will join me in acknowledging how far we have come and looking forward to the possibilities that lie ahead. Spokane extends its warmest welcome to all who come to celebrate. Let the festivities begin!

THANK YOU TO OUR SIGNATURE SPONSORS!

Visitors to the U.S. Pavilion were asked to think differently about the environment. NW MAC PHOTO

Spokane’s Message to the World

Expo ’74 was a bit ahead of its time with a theme of environmental awareness and stewardship. Earth Day had only started in 1970, and, surprising as it might sound today, the idea of the need for nations to limit their consumption was just beginning to enter mainstream thinking. Inside the U.S. Pavilion, the words “The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth” dominated the entrance.

But Expo also presented its credo — a statement of purpose declaring that, along with all the fun, there was a serious message, delivered by a city that had to reclaim its much-abused waterfront to even host the World’s Fair.

Entitled “This We Believe,” it was proclaimed to the 85,000 who came to witness opening day on May 4, 1974. Just before President Richard Nixon officially opened the Fair, beloved entertainer Danny Kaye read our manifesto:

“This we believe: That the universe is a grand design in which man and nature are one.

“That planet earth, a small part of the universe, is the residence of mortal man whose needs and aspirations are limited by the finite resources of planet earth and man’s own finite existence.

“That man is the custodian of his environment, as the environment is the custodian of man.

“That man, in his growing wisdom, will renounce the age-old boast of conquering nature lest nature conquer man.

“That the skies and the seas and the bountiful earth from which man draws his sustenance are the preserves of all mankind, and that in the brotherhood they derive from nature, the nations of the earth will join together in the preservation of the fragile heritage of our planet.

“We believe in the restoration of the reverence of nature, which once filled our own land where the American Indian roamed in respectful concert with his environment.

“We believe that the human spirit itself must set its own limitations to achieve a beauty and order and diversity that will fill the hearts of the children of the world with a new and happier vision of their destiny.

“We believe that from this city of Spokane there goes forth today to the world the message that the time of great environmental awakening is at hand.

“All this, we believe.”

THE FIVE PILLARS

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Expo ’74 was the first ever environmentally themed World’s Fair. The questions and conversations Expo ’74 popularized — about sustainability and international environmental issues — continue today.

Celebrating the central theme of Expo ’74 allows us the opportunity to reflect on where we have been, while maintaining the goal of being careful stewards of the land we call home into the future. Together, we can continue exploring new ways to ground ourselves in better practices, and new opportunities to protect and care for the land we inhabit.

Spokane sits within a beautiful region, teeming with life. Our nearby lakes, rivers, mountains, forests and fields are both gorgeous and packed with wildlife, each native species vital to the region and its ecosystem. 50 years in the future, the lessons from Expo ’74 still ripple through the community and continue to inspire generations to protect this place we call home.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Amanda Parrish

Join the Club!

By supporting the free programs throughout the Expo 50 celebration, your membership gives you access to exclusive benefits through July 4, including a commemorative coin and discounts at popular spots like Riverfront Spokane, The MAC and other local shops, restaurants and bars. Also check out Corporate Club ’74. One donation gets 25 individual memberships for your company, each with all the same discounts — and access to a special bonus event! Scan either QR code to learn more about the benefits. Join the celebration today!

THE FIVE PILLARS

TRIBAL CULTURE Spokane, sp’q’n’I in Salish, means “Children of the Sun.” Many aspects of this beautiful land are rooted in Native American history, telling the stories of original inhabitants and new generations crafting their own narratives. It is a responsibility to ensure that these stories can be shared.

As a centerpiece of Spokane, the magnificent Spokane Falls has been a focal point for Expo ’74 and for our downtown urban park, but its history is rooted as a tribal gathering place. The Spokane Tribe of Indians hosted large communal gatherings while chinook salmon ran the river. Their legacy, both past and present, continues to be a vital piece of Spokane’s future.

Each of the five pillars exemplify a piece of Spokane that truly makes this place unique; tribal culture sits as a focal point between them. Aspects of tribal culture are woven within each of the pillars, similar to how the legacy of Native American history is woven into the region. This pillar allows for the continued celebration and appreciation of the tribes in the area.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Margo Hill

THE FIVE PILLARS

RECREATION & SPORT

The energy and excitement that put Spokane on a world stage in 1974 are very much alive and well in our city. We are active and passionate, pursuing connection, with a healthy dose of friendly competition. Our city continues to make a mark on the global stage with some incredible flagship events that bring the entire city together to compete and recreate multiple times a year. With Expo ’74 as a spark, Spokane has continued to build upon its outdoor events since 1974. Bloomsday was run for the first time, the Centennial Trail was established, and Hoopfest began in the 16 years following the fair. These events are staples of Spokane and have helped bring the community together through activity.

As intrepid explorers and outdoor adventurers, we push beyond the boundaries of what is known. From the court to the campground, the track to the trails, we thrive upon resiliency and dynamism.

And it is not just large-scale events, the effect of outdoor activity on a smaller scale is something equally special. It can be as simple as a stroll through the park. There are spaces here in Spokane for activity, and a community around them that supports each other. This area’s beautiful landscape is the ultimate playground that is enjoyed by thousands every day. Whenever we come together to do big things, this community reminds us all that we live in an amazing place.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Ashley Blake, Jennifer Papich

THE FIVE PILLARS

ARTS & CULTURE

Spokane is a place where warmth, pride and kindness collide with ambition, creativity and community. It is these aspects that make Spokane stand out in the greater picture of not just the state, but the country and the world. There is a long history in Spokane of combining creative thinking with ingenuity that unlocks innovation. Spokane is home to artists who craft, weave, write, sculpt, paint, dance, perform, sing, play, cook and more. A fusion of ideas and formats can be found here, and we love it.

Our culture is vibrant, eclectic, expressive and interwoven with neighborly help and communal care. Around every corner in the region is support for not only local creators, but our community members in a way that is uniquely Spokane. The legacy of creativity and innovation that shone at Expo ’74 continues to push us forward into new ways of thinking, being and doing. This celebration allows us an opportunity to come together to appreciate each other’s craft and to showcase, yet again, what Spokane can do when its people converge together. Everyone gets the chance to be supported here and all contribute to the ever-expanding tapestry of Spokane’s history and culture.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Karen Boone, Marguerite Di Mauro, Yvonne Montoya Zamora

MARKING 50 YEARS Every week in the Inlander through the end of June, look for these Expo 50 pages, where Bill Youngs will guide you through the improbable story of the 1974 World’s Fair.

EXPO 50 EVENTS

50TH ANNIVERSARY OPENING CELEBRATION

May 4, 2024 | 3 PM - 9 PM | Pavilion at Riverfront Expo ’74 included informational exhibits about the environment, cultural performances and much more, so it’s only fitting that the 50th anniversary celebration is kicked off in the same fashion. Gather under Riverfront Park’s Pavilion and watch live performances from arts, cultural, tribal and community organizations. There will also be speakers, lots of international cuisine to try, and plenty of hands-on activities for attendees of all ages.

SPOKANE INDIANS EXPO NIGHT

May 4 | 5 PM | Avista Stadium Spokane’s favorite baseball team is getting into the Expo ’74 spirit with four nights playing in throwback uniforms. The first, vs. Eugene, marks the anniversary of the fair’s opening day and concludes with fireworks. Commemorative jerseys and hats are available to wear with pride all summer long.

For the full schedule of Expo 50th events, head to Expo50Spokane.com

FOUNDING PARTNERS

Avista

City of Spokane City of Spokane Parks & Recreation

Spokane Partnership Gonzaga University Greater Spokane Inc.

PILLAR SPONSORS

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Kalispel Tribe of Indians & Northern Quest Resort and Casino

Spokane Tribe & Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino

EVENT SPONSORS

Amazon

Avista

Empire Health Foundation

Inland Northwest AGC

Innovia Foundation

Integrus Architecture

Itron

Celebrating Yesterday’s Fresh New Environment, Today

Expo ’74’s big environmental legacy continues to inspire conservation of the region’s natural assets

BY LUCY KLEBECK

The “butterfly effect” describes the phenomenon that even small actions can have vast consequences. The effect was first described in 1972 by meteorologist Edward Lorenz, who discovered a minuscule alteration could drastically change the results of his weather simulation. He used the metaphor of a butterfly’s gently fluttering wings having the power to spur a distant tornado.

The idea that small things can have lasting impacts is not unfamiliar in Spokane. In 1974, Spokane was the smallest city to host a world’s fair and had a major turnout, with more than 5 million visitors that year.

Yet what would the city be like if Expo ’74, that metaphorical butterfly flapping its wings, never happened?

The obvious answer is that Riverfront Park wouldn’t exist as we know it. A collection of industrial railyards may still be partitioning downtown and preventing people from accessing and enjoying the Spokane River’s roaring heart. Before Expo, the riverfront was also home to a burneddown warehouse, a laundry service and other industrial uses that left its shores and waters polluted with chemicals and debris. All of this was cleaned up before the fair and sparked the first work to address chemical pollution in the river, which continues today.

“We wouldn’t have this central place for the people of Spokane to come build their own personal relationship with the river,” says Amanda Parrish, executive director at The Lands Council, an Inland Northwest environmental nonprofit aimed at preserving and revitalizing forests, waters and wildlife.

Parrish is also the chair of the environmental pillar committee for Expo’s 50th anniversary celebration. Community leaders were selected to help plan events for five pillars of the anniversary event, which tie to the fair’s original themes and also include Expo’s legacy, tribal culture, recreation and sport, and arts and culture.

Parrish says the event’s 50th anniversary, just like its original run, is also a catalyst for environmental teamwork in the region.

“I’ve been working for 15 years in this field here in Spokane, and I do feel like right now there is a level of camaraderie and collaboration in the conservation community that’s the highest I’ve ever seen,” she says.

Many of the environmental issues still facing Spokane a half-century after Expo ’74 — adaptability to climate change, protecting the river and species within it, reducing the amount of food and organic waste going into the region’s waste-to-energy incinerator — involve solutions that are collaboratively driven, which is why working together is so important, Parrish says.

This modern collaboration harkens back to the teamwork that resulted in Expo ’74 being so successful in the first place.

“I think we underestimate ourselves as a community sometimes in Spokane,” says Brian Henning, director of Gonzaga University’s Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment. “Expo shows that we can do things that are bold and ambitious if we work hard enough at it and work together as a community, and that gives me a lot of hope.”

Henning also speaks of Spokane’s potential to be a national and global leader in environmental efforts. He says local work to eliminate phosphorus from laundry detergents resulted in a voluntary nationwide ban in 2010.

“There’s this saying, where we’re trying to create a movement, not a moment. I think of Expo in that way. There’s some elements that are just a moment, a celebration,” Henning says. “How do we also use it as an opportunity to support and nurture the local movement to do better in our relationship to the environment?”

Expo’s 50th anniversary environmental stewardship pillar is working on just that. Part of the nine-week celebration’s kickoff is the planting of 100 trees each day from May 7 to 11 as a tribute to the now-mature trees in Riverfront Park, first planted

...continued on page 14

In December 1973, Spokane held a massive recycling drive and featured the cans collected in a Christmas tree. NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTO

Dear Expo ‘74,

Doug Toone established Jewelry Design Center in 1977, but the seeds of inspiration were sown in 1974. His journey took a fortunate turn when he received an offer for a booth at your esteemed World’s Fair (Expo ‘74). At that time, Doug was involved in crafting and repairing jewelry for a local trade shop. Armed with his workbench, tools, and a modest amount of silver, he meticulously carved and fashioned pieces from raw silver. Much to his delight, each piece he created sold that day, showcasing not just his exceptional craftsmanship but also his natural talent for building enduring connections with his customers. This realization became the foundation for the establishment of Jewelry Design Center just three years later.

Since then, JDC has evolved from a modest office in the North Town building to our current, awardwinning 17,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility in Spokane. Additionally, we've expanded to our 6,000 square foot, Columbia gem in the Tri-Cities, and now operate a 6,600 square foot store in Missoula, Montana.

As we remember and celebrate the anniversary of Expo ‘74, we express our gratitude for all you have brought us and taught us. Here's to the next 50 years of success and growth!

With the highest gratitude,

Jewelry Design Center

MILESTONES THIS ALL HAPPENED IN 1974

Erno Rubik invented his famous time-waster, the Rubik’s Cube

A media frenzy erupted when heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped

People magazine debuted; Expo was featured in an early edition

President Richard Nixon resigned just three months after opening Expo

Thanks to a new federal law, American women could get a credit card in their own name — really!

Evel Knievel almost jumped the Snake River in a rocket-powered motorcycle — almost!

Philippe Petit walked a tightrope spanning the Twin Towers in NYC

In Zaire, Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman; KO in the 8th

Dungeons & Dragons was invented; basements were never the same

Skittles were invented; the candy aisle was never the same again

“CELEBRATING YESTERDAY’S FRESH NEW ENVIRONMENT, TODAY,” CONTINUED...

in 1974. The new saplings, tagged as a part of the new “Expo Forest,” will be planted in areas where tree coverage is low as a part of a citywide goal to in crease canopy coverage. The SpoCanopy program, led by The Lands Council and Spokane’s Urban Forestry department, aims for every neighborhood to have at least 40% tree canopy coverage by 2030 and works to increase access to green spaces throughout the city.

Another sustainability-focused local group, Zero Waste Spokane, is working to make the 50th anniversary celebration as environmentally conscious — if not more so — as the original fair. Zero Waste Spokane is helping vendors and visitors to reduce waste during the opening ceremony (and during Bloomsday) by separating waste into bins for recyclable, compostable and burnable materials with the help of trained volunteers known as waste ambassadors.

Spokane Transit Authority is also offering free weekend fares for the duration of the celebration to encourage people to use public transit, with the hope that they’ll continue to ride the bus after experiencing its ease and accessibility.

There are many other environmental events planned for Expo ’74’s 50th commemoration.

On Saturday, June 1, regional environmental organizations are taking over Riverfront Park’s Vendor Village to present about regional conservation efforts. Groups for land preservation, trail building, public health, community outreach, endangered species and more will share how to get involved with their missions.

A legislative summit, free and open to the public, is also slated for June 21. The goal is to foster conversation between elected officials and community members and hopefully develop legislation that can go to Olympia in 2025. Organizers hope they’ll be more effective than similar discussions

hosted during the original fair. (Keep up with all events at Expo50Spokane.com.)

“In Expo ’74 there were nice speeches and discussions, but in terms of launching novel, creative legislation, not so much,” says Henning, adding that the event will be a “launching pad to do expanded environmental and climate work.”

The 50th celebration serves as a reminder that while humanity still has a long journey ahead to make positive, lasting environmental change, we’ve also come a long way from using the Spokane River as a municipal dumping ground as recently as six decades ago.

While only one of the fair’s five soaring butterfly sculptures remains today, overlooking Riverfront Park’s northern entrance with its lilac wings frozen mid-flutter, it continues to symbolize everything Expo ’74 accomplished and, with a barely perceptible sway in the wind, everything that is still to come.

Embracing the Theme

The slogan for Expo ’74 was “Celebrating Tomorrow’s Fresh Environment.” It’s perhaps now hard to read without cringing a bit, viewed from the vantage of half-a-century. But that idealism did permeate much of the planning and execution of the fair. And the fair’s legacy, while imperfect, produced significant ecological progress.

Concern about the environment was certainly brewing long before Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, inspired by the massive 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara. In Spokane, the most obvious environmental blight was the state of the Spokane River, its islands and riverbanks.

So how bad was it? In his book The Fair and the Falls, Bill Youngs shares the firsthand account related by Spokanite Mike Green, who fished in the river in the 1950s. “It’s hard to believe that a city could have treated a river as badly as Spokane did that stream,” Green says. “I mean, it was an open sewer. There’s no other way to describe it… The willows along the bank would be festooned with all sorts of unmentionables.’ He went on to say that when he fished, he would have to stop and clear the human hair that clumped onto his fishing line. There was certainly room for

improvement.

Even when choosing Expo ’74’s official theme “Preserve the Environment,” organizers acknowledged that although they hoped for significant progress, they wouldn’t be able to achieve all their goals in the years leading up to the fair. “But the theme of a world’s fair dedicated to ecology added urgency to ecological discussions,” Youngs writes. “A broad-based consensus for change had emerged; it involved Spokane citizens, Expo board members and government officials, all of whom agreed that a city hosting a fair on the environment should set a good example in ecological matters.”

In a report conducted after the fair, the city of Spokane was judged as falling short in actually “depolluting” the Spokane River’s water; outlying areas, however, were found to have improved their water treatment systems, spurred by the emphasis of Expo ’74. The fair’s theme also spurred conversations among business and government stakeholders on how to improve. In the years since, often prompted by federal goals, major efforts involving all levels of government have prioritized cleaning up the river.

There were more tangible efforts that showed off the city’s heightened environmental awareness. Promoting the new concept

of recycling, Spokane’s “environmental Christmas tree,” composed of 40,000 recovered beverage cans collected by Spokane students, was dedicated in December 1973.

An environmental task force composed of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Girls planned for 10,000 people to fan out for a citywide litter cleanup before the fair. “Spokanites also removed several hundred abandoned vehicles from public places,” Youngs notes.

But the biggest improvement came from the removal of mills, railroad trestles, roads, parking lots and an industrial laundry that had obscured the natural beauty of the Spokane River.

On opening day, with 85,000 gathered in the reclaimed fairgrounds, actor Danny Kaye read the Expo credo, emphasizing the hope that “man, in his growing wisdom will renounce the age-old boast of conquering nature, lest nature conquer man.”

And, as Youngs writes, those words meant something to the hometown members of that crowd: “The Expo credo marked a dramatic change in self-understanding among the citizens of the city beside the falls.”

— ANNE McGREGOR

Many exhibitors showed off new technologies that could propel the world into a greener future. General Motors even shared its “experimental electric-powered car.” Neat idea! MAC PHOTO

MAY 4, 2024-JANUARY 26, 2025

Expo ‘74 Memory Share

Share your own memories and browse the memories of others now!

‘The Entertainment Capital of the United States’

In 1974, promoter Mike Kobluk and architect Bruce Walker launched the Spokane Opera House as the centerpiece of the world’s fair

BY TED S. McGREGOR JR.

If you loved live entertainment and you lived in Spokane in 1974, well… Lucky you! Not only did you get to enjoy the brand-new Spokane Opera House — aka, the Washington State Pavilion — but for six months, Spokane was, as Mike Kobluk confidently predicted a few months before the start of the world’s fair, “the entertainment capital of the United States.”

Recently retired from the Chad Mitchell Trio, with hit records and gigs on The Ed Sullivan Show, Kobluk was hired as one of the first dozen employees of the fair to fill the new building with shows. He also booked the Spokane Coliseum.

To start, Kobluk sent handwritten letters to mayors in

cities across America, asking them to lend their entertainers. That’s just how it was done in 1974.

“One day,” he says, “we got a letter back from the mayor of Los Angeles. They wanted to be a part of it — in fact, they wanted to bring the LA Philharmonic with Zubin Mehta. And they wanted to open the fair!”

When word got out about the LA Phil, the engagements started flowing. One letter carried the looping, florid signature of Liberace, who committed to six shows around the Fourth of July. It became a jam-packed showcase of pure 1970s pop culture — the Carpenters, Olga Korbut, the Amazing Kreskin.

A few memories stand out for Kobluk even now. John

Denver, who had been his bandmate in the Trio, came to play at the Coliseum and wanted to get a quick tour of the fair from his old friend. Unfortunately, Denver was at the peak of his popularity. After a quick visit to the USSR Pavilion, a growing mob of fans cut the tour short.

Speaking of the Russians, Kobluk requested the famed Red Army Choir. But they were not allowed to come, as the State Department objected because of the word “Army.”

“The Cold War,” Kobluk says, “you know, it was still underway at the time.”

Another old friend, Harry Belafonte performed two nights; he had championed the Trio’s music in the New

Mike Kobluk booked the first season at the Opera House — and many more.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

ABOVE: Architect Bruce Walker’s name still lives backstage. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO KEITH OKA ART

DOXEY PHOTO

York folk music scene years before. The Trio joined him in Selma, Alabama, for the second march for civil rights, where they performed the night before the march.

“That was a very emotional performance,” Kobluk recalls. “So when he came to the fair, it was like a homecoming.”

Bing Crosby even dropped by. While he was not able to schedule a performance, he was in town before it opened and sauntered up on stage to give his expert opinion.

“‘Oh, this is a beautiful place,’” Kobluk recalls Crosby remarking. “Then he sang out a few lines — Too-la-roo-la-rooral. Then he said, ‘Geez, the acoustics are pretty nice on this stage!’”

His lifelong friend and comedic foil in the On The Road movies, Bob Hope, was coming to perform at Expo. Crosby couldn’t resist one more dig.

“He got to asking about Bob Hope’s visit,” Kobluks recalls, “and they told him he was playing the larger Coliseum, not the Opera House, to which Bing answered, ‘Thank heavens, this is much too nice a place for Bob!’”

Kobluk’s reward for such an epic lineup? A full-time job, as somebody was going to have to fill this new building with entertainment after that magical year. He stayed on for nearly three decades, retiring in 2001. In a hallway backstage at what is now the First Interstate Center for the Arts, there’s a plaque that reads: “The House That Mike Kobluk Built.”

The triumph of that summer’s schedule of entertainment is even more surprising when you hear how tentative the whole enterprise really was. As Kobluk puts it: “For a while, it was not certain the Opera House would even get built.”

Once Expo was on, Spokane’s planners beat a path to Olympia to remind legislators of the $10 million that was given to Seattle for their 1962 world’s fair, and, well, fair’s fair. Ultimately, they secured $7.5 million, with $2.9 million funded later to allow the addition of convention space. Another $1 million was raised locally under the leadership of future Mayor Vicki McNeill.

According to historian Bill Youngs, the foremost authority on all things Expo ’74, “it’s the most important architectural residual of the world’s fair.” And it’s hard to argue with that, as it has continued attracting shows like Hamilton, Les Mis and Cats in the years since. In fact, the Best of Broadway series alone has brought in 1,843 performances with 3.3 million seats filled over its 36 years.

Perhaps the biggest break came when local architectural phenom Bruce Walker and his partner John McGough won the contract to build it. As a Spokane kid at the University of Washington, Walker was sad to find out they did not offer a cartooning degree, so he chose architecture. Then he took a break from college to defend democracy in places like Iwo Jima and the Philippines. Upon his return, he finished his degree, then went to Harvard to study under the legendary Walter Gropius. He later designed five buildings on the UW campus, along with Red Square plaza; Walker, who died in 2005, was a founder of the local architectural firm Integrus.

Yes, Walker was a rock star of his profession — but having never designed a theater, he was intimidated. “It’s like designing a kitchen for a cook you don’t know,” he commented.

An early innovation was to make it bigger, going from a planned 1,300 seats to 2,600. Acoustics were another challenge, so they brought in top experts from Los Angeles to consult; the wooden slats you see in the ceiling today are a part of their novel acoustic design.

“The interesting thing about an opera house,” Walker told Bill Youngs for his 1996 book, The Fair and the Falls, “is that you have to tune it. It’s like a musical instrument in the sense that it has a sound to produce.”

The final tests and tweaks, Walker said, were conducted when somebody brought in a bunch of cassette tapes they’d blast out to test the sound from different seats. Somebody loved Neil Diamond, and it was his voice that tuned up the space. The overall result is a timeless structure of concrete and glass — modern and enduring, connecting the Spokane River and the urban core. You can still see Walker and McGough’s names on a beam backstage.

For its opening weekend back in 1974, the Washington State Pavilion welcomed the LA Phil on the evening of opening day — Saturday, May 4. On Friday night, May 3, it was the Spokane Symphony that got to officially christen the space, under the direction of Donald Thulean.

Scaffolding fills what would become the future Opera House stage; no roof yet, as you can see the Parkade in the distance.

LA Phil, Zubin Mehta conducting The Pointer Sisters

Mime Marcel Marceau

Bob Hope

Liberace

Bachman Turner Overdrive coming to Northern Quest, 7/24/24

John Denver

Merle Haggard

Olivia Newton-John Spokane Symphony feat. Ella Fitzgerald, Donald Thulean conducting

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS & CULTURE PHOTO

‘A Fascinating, Improbable Shape’

“continuity of life” and emphasize environmental themes such as “live in harmony… maintaining our fresh air” and “finding solutions to our industrial pollution problems.” Since a Möbius strip is never-ending and symbolizes reuse, this seemed to him a perfect fit. Carlson chose white to express the purity of air. Blue stands for the water of lakes and streams. Green represents the unspoiled, natural beauty of growing plants and trees. As soon as he had the idea, he completed the finished logo in a matter of hours. The next day, he submitted it to the design committee. The committee notified Carlson that he had won, and asked him for the art master. Carlson pointed out “the first contest was the freebie, and if they wanted the Möbius strip, they’d have to pay,” says Steven. They did. Steven recalls they paid about $5,000 — he wasn’t exactly sure — but they made it worth his father’s time. Carlson went on to create a flag design for the city [which was in use until 2021], as well as designs for some of Spokane’s most iconic brands. In 1986 he moved to Portland to be closer to his family; he passed away in 2009 at the age of 90. “When I visit Spokane,” Steven says, “I see examples of logos he did half a century ago still in use — not a bad legacy.”

This story was first published in the Inlander on May 1, 2014

BELOW: Lloyd Carslon on the fairgrounds under the iconic logo he designed for Expo ’74. COURTESY OF STEVEN CARLSON

ABOVE: The brand standards he developed to guide future use. NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE EXPO COLLECTION

LEFT: One of Riblet’s original Expo gondolas.

ABOVE: Fairgoers could take a break from all the walking and take in some great views on the Sky Float.

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTOS

Expo Time Capsules

A photograph of this art piece is part of the MAC’s Expo Collection.

Mystery Medallion

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture has plenty of oddities and mysterious relics in its Expo Collection. One is of a cast medallion that was perhaps entered in the competition to be the commemorative medallion of the world’s fair. If you look closely at the beautiful image of a young family in nature, with wildlife and even a salmon, it has the names “M. Sheets” and “J. Svenson” on it. MILLARD SHEETS AND JOHN EDWARD SVENSON were, in fact, a working art team; both served in World War II and studied at the Scripps colleges in California’s Pomona Valley.

You can see Svenson’s public art sculptures all over Southern California; this image for Expo is evocative of his “Ranchero” wood panel sculpture that still sits at the Millard Sheets Art Center in Los Angeles. Sheets created the “Touchdown Jesus” mural at the University of Notre Dame and the iconic facade of the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach. The medallion that was sold at Expo (and that you can find in some vintage shops) was designed by George Tsutakawa, the beloved Seattle artist and brother of Ed Tsutakawa, who helped bring the Japanese Garden that now bears his name to Spokane. Like the fair, the Japanese Garden opened in May of 1974.

Marching In

BY TED S. McGREGOR JR.

Several religious groups were on hand for Expo ’74, including the Moody Bible Institute and Seventh Day Adventists. But one religion went big: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — aka the Mormons. Sitting on pilings out over the south channel of the Spokane River, THE MORMON PAVILION was built as a replica of the golden tablets the Book of Mormon was said to have been translated from. Volunteers staffed the pavilion throughout the fair, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir even appeared for two shows on July 18-19.

The Mormon Church traces its history in the Inland Northwest to 1947. In 1974, the Spokane Washington Temple had four stakes; today that has quadrupled to 16 spread across Eastern Wash ington, North Idaho and northwestern Montana.

Flying Over the Fair

There were three ways to get a view from above Expo ’74. First, to experience the power of the Spokane Falls you could cross two brand-new suspension bridges over the the wildest parts of the river. Those spans continue to serve as a pedestrian connection — and a bit of a thrill ride during the highest spring runoffs, when you can feel the spray.

Then there were options for getting your feet off the ground. The A&W Sky Float (clever corporate tie-in!) was a double chairlift that moved you across the park and over the south channel of the Spokane River. Another beloved feature was the Skyride — a gondola that took visitors down into the spectacular Spokane River Gorge. Lucky for Spokane, a world leader in the ski lift industry was located right in town. RIBLET TRAMWAY built both the Sky Float and the Skyride attractions.

Riblet was established in 1896 by Byron Riblet, who was jack of all engineering trades. On one project, he helped solve a problem for a silver mine outside of Nelson, B.C., by installing a tram to move ore across rugged terrain. Fast forward four or five decades, and Riblet was building chairlifts out of its Spokane headquarters as fast as they could for the growing sport of skiing. By 2003, there were more than 500 resorts in North America with Riblets. The family history is alive in the Arbor Crest Cliff House, the mansion Byron’s younger brother Royal built that looms high above Spokane Valley. Riblet Tramway closed up for good in 2003.

After the fair closed in November, the Sky Float was quickly dismantled; some of the lift equipment went to Schweitzer, the rest to Vail. After nearly 30 years of service, the Riblet gondolas were replaced in 2003 by a new set of European Doppelmayrs. You can still see some of the old gondolas around town, including in the lobby of No-Li Brewhouse.

EXPO‘74

BE A PART OF HISTORY

Come early on Saturday Night to be a part of a new historical moment. We will open the Fox Theater Time Capsule from 1996, and guests are welcome to bring their own things to put in a brand-new time capsule that will be opened on our 100th anniversary. Then, take part in a commemorative group photo at both our Saturday and Sunday performances that will go into the time capsule.

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Exsultate, jubilate, K.165

RICCARDO DRIGO Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire

PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36 SATURDAY MAY 11 7:30 PM SUNDAY MAY 12 3:00 PM

“Thank you, Sun. Thank you for your light. Come again tomorrow. Have mercy on us human beings.”

— CHIEF DAN GEORGE IN MAN BELONGS TO THE EARTH

When we gaze at the skeletal Spokane Pavilion these days, we see instantly recognizable local iconography — a city landmark set amid a thriving downtown park that’s truly Expo ’74’s gift that keeps on giving.

When those attending Expo ’74 first saw the towering, covered tent that housed the U.S. Pavilion, most probably had a completely different thought: I’m about to see the biggest movie screen in the world!

Spokane to the ’MAX

Expo ’74’s featured the biggest movie screen on the planet — IMAX

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

See, the U.S. Pavilion’s main attraction — which many cited as the draw of the fair — was a completely novel technological innovation at the time: an IMAX theater.

While Spokane didn’t host IMAX’s debut, it was certainly the massive movie technology’s introduction to many Americans and worldly attendees. IMAX actually debuted at Expo ’70 in Japan, but the 70mm large-screen format was still a rarity. The only other permanent IMAX screens on the planet at the time Spokane hosted its world’s fair were located at Ontario Place in Toronto, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego and the Circus World theme park in Florida.

But the IMAX screen at Expo ’74? It dwarfed them all.

At the time it was the biggest movie screen in the world — a towering six-story behemoth that was 65 feet tall and 90 feet wide. For comparison, the IMAX screen at the AMC River Park Square 20 is a mere 27 feet high and 53 feet wide.

The screen was BIG

Keeping with Expo ’74’s environmental theme, the film that played on the ginormous screen was Man Belongs to the Earth, a 22-minute experiential nature documentary by Canadian filmmaker and IMAX co-founder Graeme Ferguson. The film combines immersive, sweeping shots

LEFT: Yes, that’s a person standing in front of Expo ’74’s IMAX screen, which was 27 feet high by 53 feet wide.

RIGHT: Every day, one group of 850 filmgoers after another would file into the IMAX; the screen was behind the wall that split the U.S. Pavilion floor.

NORTHWEST MUSEUM

of American wonders like the Grand Canyon and whitewater river rafting with critical scenes of the negative impact humankind has had on the land, paired with stirring narration by Oscar-nominated actor Chief Dan George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. (If you’re interested in a taste of the film on a much smaller screen, a low-def transfer of Man Belongs to Earth can be viewed for free on PublicResourceOrg’s YouTube page.)

For those who’ve grown up with IMAX as a given in the pop culture space, it’s hard to emphasize how brain-breaking the immersion of Man Belongs to the Earth was for those Expo patrons — especially the opening sequence. After zooming in on an image of the Earth floating in space, viewers were suddenly soaring above the Grand Canyon via footage shot by a camera attached to the front of a twin-engine Piper Aztec plane.

“When you see that stuff for the first time… my God, you thought you were falling!” recalls Jim Oliver, who worked at the fair as the assistant to the commissioner of the U.S. Pavilion. “It did not matter where you sat in the theater — you got the feeling that you were flying. Part of the introductory thing was [a warning] if you’ve got heart issues [or] if you throw up easy.”

In the book Spokane’s Expo ’74: Images of Modern America, world’s fair expert Bill Cotter writes: “The film amazed audiences with its size and clarity… that is so realistic some guests needed airsickness bags.”

Cotter also notes that it wasn’t only the viewers who felt queasy, as the film was a bit of an anomaly for a host country’s centerpiece, in that its environmental message was quite self-critical, writing, “Two major problems it explores are smog and strip-mining; a scene of heavy smog inundating Denver, Colorado, prompted complaints from civic leaders and an apology from the Expo staff.”

The New York Times’ John van der Zee was very critical of what he saw as Expo ’74’s largely hollow and performative environmental messaging, but did credit Man Belongs to the Earth with being blunt about the situation, writing, “The film… is honest enough to include interviews with at least one genuinely angry American, a disgruntled lettuce grower seen plowing under his smog-ruined crop; also, with a young farmer who is skeptical of any meaningful action being taken in behalf of the American environment, ever.”

It’s a message that stuck with those who saw the film — which was thousands upon thousands of people. Multiple screenings occurred every hour throughout the entire duration of the fair in the 850-seat theater.

The power of Chief Dan George’s narration comes up often when talking to those who saw the film at Expo. There was no formal script for the movie, rather an Indigenous staffer spent days with George recording their discussions about the environment and picked out powerful ideas that the actor could recount as the cameras were rolling.

It’s hard not to be moved by his final monologue in the film: “Thank you, Sun. Thank you for your light. Come again tomorrow. Have mercy on us human beings.”

While the centerpiece Expo ’74 screen was torn down after the fair, IMAX’s legacy continued in Spokane. A dedicated IMAX theater was built not far from the original in Riverfront Park, opening in

BIG SCREEN GREAT 1974 FILMS

Man Belongs to the Earth (played at Expo ’74’s IMAX)

The Godfather Part II

Chinatown

The Towering Inferno

Young Frankenstein

Blazing Saddles

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Man with the Golden Gun

The Longest Yard

Anchorman (set in 1974)

1978 and operating until its demolition in 2018. Now only the smaller IMAX screen at River Park Square remains.

Fifty years since its Expo showcase, IMAX is reaching new heights befitting its giant film and screens. It helps that one of cinema’s greatest directors, Christopher Nolan, happens to be an IMAX fanboy. Earlier this year, Oppenheimer became the first movie shot on IMAX to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. IMAX’s Chief Quality Guru David Keighley, who’s been working for IMAX since 1972, emphasizes how crucial Expo ’74’s IMAX presentation was to the company’s future.

“I think it was everything. I think if those world’s fairs hadn’t been happening, I don’t know whether IMAX really would have been able to flourish. It was only because people saw them at the expos. It was instrumental,” says Keighley, adding, “The cameras that shot Man Belongs to Earth — the same format and pretty well the same cameras — are used today by Christopher Nolan.”

And while IMAX’s enduring legacy continues to be a boon for moviegoers, the impact for those who attended and worked at Expo ’74 hints at something more emotionally resonant. As Oliver points out, America was in turmoil at the time, between the Vietnam War and President Nixon’s Watergate scandal (even just three months from his resignation, the POTUS headlined Expo ’74’s opening day ceremonies). Getting to show off a wonder like Man Belongs to the Earth on the world’s biggest screen strangely provided a sense of hope for a brighter future.

“People were a little disconcerted about life in America. But the Expo was America’s best foot forward,” Oliver says. “You had these spectacular things like the IMAX. And you just felt, ‘My God, a lot of people have put in a lot of work, and now I’m here to represent our country to the world.’ It probably sounds corny, but at the time, that’s how we all felt. It was an extreme honor to be at the U.S. Pavilion. It wasn’t a summer job. It was making memories.”

U.S. Pavilion

During the world’s fair, the U.S. PAVILION delivered a plea for the environment. With the Spokane River flowing on either side, the displays challenged civic complacency by showing how much people consumed — and the resulting mountains of waste. This kind of messaging is commonplace today, but this was the early stages of the environmental movement, with Earth Day only having been established in 1970. Behind a massive wall you could watch the IMAX film Man Belongs to the Earth with its message of treading lightly on the planet.

After Expo, a variety of new initiatives kept the party going. A new IMAX theater was built just west of the Pavilion; an ice skating rink was added; and a Disney-level attraction called “The Spokane

UPPER LEFT: The renovated U.S. Pavilion now features a concert venue, an elevated catwalk, open spaces and innovative light blades that make it a central lantern viewable from all over downtown Spokane.

Story” drew tourists and locals alike. But it got more difficult; after a few winters, the Pavilion’s canvas covering started to fail and had to be removed.

By 2013, Riverfront Park — and the Pavilion — seemed to be backsliding. So newly elected Mayor David Condon kicked off plans to ask citizens to fund a major, parkwide renovation. Voters greenlighted $64 million, which paid for, among other improvements, a new Skate Ribbon, a proper home for the Looff Carrousel and an innovative makeover for the U.S. Pavilion. Today the Pavilion functions as a unique greenspace for all to enjoy, but it can also be activated for events, like Hoopfest Center Court and big-name concerts. — TED S. MCGREGOR JR.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

PAGE: The U.S. Pavilion was designed by Seattle’s acclaimed NBBJ architecture firm and built on Havermale Island. The federal government provided $11.5 million, with an assist from then-Congressman Tom Foley and U.S. Sens. Warren Magnuson and Henry “Scoop” Jackson.

Silhouette Man

From a childhood spent at Lakeland Village, Gordon Vales debuted his art at Expo ’74

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Amid hot air balloons, giant metal sculptures, flashy sailboats and a flashing Ferris wheel, a handmade sign with black lettering leaned against a small easel.

“I can tear your silhouette or anything you describe for $1.05,” it read. Then, a sign-off from the artist. “... Gordon.”

The man next to the poster was thin and neatly dressed, with glasses and a soft smile. His name was Gordon Vales, and this was his debut into the professional art world.

Vales was a Black man with intellectual disabilities whose knack for tearing paper earned him a spot at Spokane’s Expo ’74 — and eventually took him all over the world. Known by locals as “the silhouette man,” Vales tore sheets of black paper into simple but accurate copies of faces, animals, superheroes or any idea a customer requested. In a minute or two he could replicate anything he saw or imagined, using only his hands.

Thanks to his initial success at Expo, Vales kept working at Riverfront Park for the rest of the decade, then moved to a park bench in Manito Park. He won an award in Japan for his unique creations and traveled to New York City to showcase his work.

In a time when people with intellectual disabilities didn’t live outside institutions, Vales defied expectations, living in his own apartment, creating his own routines and becoming a recognized figure of the Spokane community. When he died in 2015, Vales was remembered not only as an artist, but as a pioneer for Spokanites with disabilities.

In 1939, Vales was surrendered to Lakeland Village in Medical Lake, an institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He was 4 years old. As far as who brought him to Lakeland, “I don’t remember ever seeing them,” Vales said in a 1971 interview with the Spokesman-Review

Vales learned to tear silhouettes at age 6, thanks to a volunteer art teacher at Lakeland Village. Although elementary school teachers said Vales didn’t retain information from semester to semester, others who later saw his artwork claimed he had a photographic memory. He was able to reproduce faces and complex shapes with only a few precise tears of paper.

“I have trouble with words, but I do alright if I take my time,” Vales said in a 1980 documentary directed by local filmmaker Robin DuCrest. “I tear silhouettes by feeling. My hands know what to do.”

When Vales was 20, he was released from Lakeland Village to live with his art teacher, Rhoda Williams, and her family.

“I felt very strongly that if Gordon had an opportunity to develop and use his artistic talent, then he could go a long way,” Williams said in DuCrest’s film.

Williams lived on a farm in Edwall, Washington. The small, conservative community petitioned to not let her family bring a Black man into their home. But the Williamses disregarded the petition, and Vales eventually won over the community by always showing up to Sunday school and tearing silhouettes of the church

kids.

“Gordon arrives at the essence of what you are,” said Fran Polek, a professor at Gonzaga University who was involved in DuCrest’s film and interviewed by the Spokesman-Review in 1980. “He sees you as perhaps who you are instead of how you see yourself.”

After living with the Williamses for a decade, Vales decided to be a vendor at Expo, another huge step of personal growth. He delighted fairgoers every day with profiles of them, their families, favorite animals and superheroes. Expo was an opportunity to earn money and showcase what he could do to a broader audience. He had dreams of going on a cruise and paying for trips with his art.

In 1980, Vales was able to move out of the Williamses’ home and into a solo apartment on Boone Avenue. He paid some of his bills with income from the art he sold at Riverfront Park and the Spokane Interstate Fair. After some aggressive teenagers started bothering Vales at Riverfront Park, he would walk 4 miles from north Spokane to Manito Park every day to do his art next to the Park Bench Cafe.

“I think about good things when I’m walking,” Vales said in the documentary. “The birds and how beautiful the world is.”

Dana Hunter worked at the Park Bench as a teenager in the early 2000s. Her parents owned the popular neighborhood cafe and were affectionately told when they purchased it that Vales came with the cafe, too. They were thrilled.

“The only way to describe him is a gentle soul,” Hunter says. “His work was amazing, and people really enjoyed seeing all the work that he would do. It was perfect every time. I think he just had a knack for seeing things in a different way than most people see it.”

To watch Robin DuCrest’s documentary The Silhouettes of Gordon Vales, ask an archivist at the Inland Northwest Special Collections at Spokane Public Library’s Central location.

Celebrating 50 Years

RIVER PARK SQUARE NORDSTROM EXPO ‘74

Limited-edition River Park Square 50-Year keychain with same-day purchases of $250 or more, while supplies last. Visit the concierge desk for details. MAY 3JULY 4

Special exhibit of archival images and firsthand storytelling by key figures in River Park Square’s history, curated by Katie McCutcheon.

Collaborations and performances with local community organizations including EXPO ’74, Gonzaga Readers Theatre, Spokane United We Stand, and the Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire.

On-site enter-to-win featuring 50 sought-after items from River Park Square merchants!

Community collection effort in support of Project BeautyShare. Donate new or gently used beauty and hygiene items for women and families in need and receive a keepsake River Park Square water bottle decal.

THROUGH THE YEARS

MAY 1

THE FOUNDATION ERA

In the 1970s, River Park Square and Nordstrom opened their doors, setting the foundation just days before Spokane hosted EXPO ’74. The new shopping center was a beacon of modernity, reflecting the optimism and growth spurred by the international exposition.

EXPANSION & CHALLENGE

The 1980s were a time of growth and challenge for River Park Square. The early part of the decade saw the expansion of the shopping center, including new skywalks connecting to major department stores, increasing its allure as a premier shopping destination.

However, the latter part witnessed economic shifts and retail challenges. Despite these hurdles, the shopping center remained a central fixture in Spokane.

REVITALIZATION & REBIRTH

The 1990s heralded a major revitalization for River Park Square, sparked by the renewal of Nordstrom’s lease, JCPenney’s relocation in 1991 and the desire to rejuvenate Downtown Spokane.

On February 12, 1998, Nordstrom resigned its lease, this time for a new location at River Park Square. Construction on Nordstrom and the shopping center as a whole, began in April 1998, culminating in the grand reopening on August 20, 1999, to a crowd of thousands.

NEW MILLENIUM

Entering the new millennium, River Park Square experienced a surge of energy. The successful redevelopment brought a mix of local shops, national brands, and dining establishments, revitalizing the downtown vibe. The 80-foot glass atrium became a beloved gathering place, especially during the holiday season with its spectacular 50’ Christmas tree.

‘15

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

The 2010s saw continued growth and an even deeper connection with the Spokane community. The acquisition and conversion of nearby buildings expanded the shopping center’s footprint, including notable additions like Urban Outfitters.

The shopping center not only enhanced its retail offerings but also strengthened its role as a community gathering place, hosting events and embracing new trends in consumer experience. River Park Square solidified its position as a central landmark in Spokane, fostering a vibrant urban life that attracted both locals and visitors alike.

ADAPT & THRIVE

The 2020s brought unprecedented challenges with the pandemic, yet River Park Square adapted and continued to thrive. The shopping center navigated the complexities of health guidelines while keeping community spirit alive.

As of 2024, River Park Square boasts a diverse range of tenants, catering to various consumer needs and preferences. Nordstrom continues to be the anchor tenant, a testament to its enduring appeal and quality. The shopping center also features an AMC 20 Theatres with IMAX, providing a state-ofthe-art cinematic experience. New tenants and innovative concepts like Indigenous Eats, From Here and The Small Biz Shoppe reflect the shopping center’s ongoing commitment to local entrepreneurship. Other notable tenants include Apple, fashion-forward stores like Free People and Anthropologie, and specialty retailers like the LEGO Store

From Russia with Food

Spokane helped bridge Cold War tensions by welcoming a massive Soviet delegation during Expo ’74 — including chefs

BY NATE SANFORD

Today, Spokane is a hub of Russian and Slavic culture. The city has more than a dozen Russianlanguage churches and several Slavic grocery stores. Russian is the third most-commonly spoken language, behind English and Spanish.

“It’s very common,” says Vinson Eberly, who recently retired after spending years as a Russian translator in Spokane. “You go someplace, you hear someone speaking Russian, and you don’t even bother turning your head anymore.”

That wasn’t always the case.

In the early 1970s, Russian-speaking people were few and far between in Spokane. At the time, Eberly was

20 years old and studying Russian language at Eastern Washington University. Decades of Cold War tensions had created an air of mistrust between the United States and the Soviet Union. Like most Americans, he had never actually spoken to a native Russian speaker before.

That all changed in 1974, when the Soviet Union sent a delegation of about 200 people to Spokane to host a massive pavilion in the Expo ’74 World’s Fair. That summer, there were more Soviets working in Spokane than in any other American city.

The USSR was one of the first countries to commit to staging an exhibition at the fair. The country hadn’t participated in an American world’s fair since 1939, but

UPPER RIGHT: The USSR souvenir Expo pin.

NORTHWEST

Soviet officials were excited about the Spokane fair’s environmental theme. President Richard Nixon had signed an environmental accord with the Soviet Union a few years earlier as part of a larger move toward Cold War “détente” — or easing of tensions — in the 1970s.

The Soviet Union’s early commitment gave momentum to the organizers of the fair. In The Fair and the Falls, a mammoth history of Expo ’74, historian Bill Youngs writes that the Soviets’ presence in Spokane “was one of the most remarkable features of the environmental world’s fair.

“More than any other exhibitor, foreign or domestic, the Soviet Union had put Expo ’74 on the map,” Youngs writes. “The USSR signed up for the fair early, did not vac-

...continued on next page

UPPER LEFT: The Soviet Pavilion on opening day; the map of USSR was made of aluminum and weighed two-and-a-half tons.

LOWER RIGHT: Visitors to the biggest pavilion at Expo ’74 were greeted by an enormous bust of the founder of communism, Vladimir Lenin.

MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTOS

“FROM

illate about attending, and built one of the largest pavilions ever to grace an American world’s fair.”

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

In the runup to the event, the vice president of the USSR Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to King Cole, the leader of the fair effort, saying the Soviets’ early decision to commit to Expo gave “priority to the Soviet Union in choosing the location for the USSR section, which might amount to some 30,000 to 35,000 square feet.”

The size of the Soviet pavilion was later doubled — making it by far the largest exhibition at Expo. It featured a 4,500-pound aluminum map of the USSR, artificial trees, dioramas about nuclear physics and forestry, three movie theaters, and a massive towering bust of Vladimir Lenin’s head, which terrified at least one small child.

The Soviet delegation also operated a restaurant that was staffed by a number of Russian chefs brought over from Moscow. It served chicken kiev, beef stroganoff and other Slavic dishes.

Eberly, the Russian language college student, was hired to work in the kitchen as a translator. The regular kitchen helpers were making $1.75 an hour, but because he was working as a translator, Eberly says he made a “whopping” $2.25.

Eberly remembers some Spokanites being apprehensive about the Soviets’ presence. The arms race and Vietnam War were fresh in people’s minds, and many expressed concern about hosting America’s geopolitical adversary.

“They were wary, because this was the unknown,” Eberly says. “We as Americans had been fed that ‘This is our enemy.’”

In The Fair and the Falls, Youngs describes an incident in which a man stuck his head out of a passing pickup truck and yelled, “Why don’t you damn Russians go home?!” at several members of the Soviet delegation walking near the Spokane Club. The Jewish League protested Soviet restrictions on Jewish emigration from the USSR by passing out Expo maps that urged people to reflect on the value of free movement as they walked through the fairgrounds.

fireworks he had bought in Montana, which they promptly set off in the hallway.

“I learned a lot of swear words that year,” Eberly says.

Eberly says friends and family would sometimes ask him what the Soviets were really like. He would reply that they are “just like you and me.

“They have family, they have loved ones, they miss their pets,” Eberly says. “It’s not that they’re here to spy on us, it’s not that they’re here to do anything nefarious, they’re just doing their job. It’s a temporary assignment, and they got homesick, too.”

Cole, the “father of Expo,” spoke a little bit of Russian and would have the delegation over to his family home for dinners.

At first, the dinners were very formal, says Mary Cole, one of Cole’s eight children. The Soviets would eat, have a little dessert and then leave. But she says that her parents made the Russians feel welcomed and that they seemed to warm up over time.

Nancy Cole, another of Cole’s daughters, recalls her father taking some Soviets fishing.

“These Russian people that came, they all became good friends,” Nancy Cole says.

The Soviet delegation was almost always accompanied by KGB agents — including during the fishing trip, when Nancy Cole says the agents sat on the shore and watched.

“The KGB agents, they came here with ’em, because they wanted to make sure they weren’t going to defect,” Mary Cole says.

“I learned a lot of swear words that year.”

— VINSON EBERLY

Eberly says the KGB agents were a regular presence in the restaurants. The agents were very concerned about people defecting and seeking asylum in the U.S., he says, and they would often pop in the kitchen unexpectedly while the chefs were working.

“You could see the chefs all kind of stiffen up and get very quiet,” Eberly says.

MODERN CONNECTIONS

The suspicions and cultural differences cut both ways. Some visitors described the Soviets as cold and standoffish.

When executives from Ford Motor Company visited the Soviet Pavilion, they received a lecture from the Soviets about how the American car manufacturer was oppressing its workers. When U.S. bomber planes’ standard flight path from Fairchild Air Force Base took them over the Soviet pavilion, the delegation’s security chief grew suspicious and complained about it to a police captain assigned to the fair.

But over the course of the fair, the Americans and Soviets were largely able to put aside the political tensions and cultural differences and find common ground. Eberly was able to bond with the Soviet chefs working in the kitchen. He recalls one rowdy night when he gave the Soviet chefs

Expo ’74 didn’t end the Cold War. But it did offer citizens of two rival superpowers a rare glimpse into one another’s lives — and shared humanity. The Soviets left town after the world’s fair ended, but that wasn’t the end of Russian culture in Spokane.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, a large number of immigrants from former Soviet republics began moving to Spokane — many of them seeking asylum from religious persecution. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Russian language and linguistics, Eberly started working as an interpreter helping the new arrivals navigate the social benefits available. He later worked at Central Valley School District teaching English to Russian-speaking immigrants.

Spokane’s climate is similar to that of Eastern Europe, and after the first wave of immigrants established themselves, others followed, and the city became a hub for Russian-speaking people seeking community.

IRAN BEFORE THE FALL

Along with the Soviets, there was another nation soon to experience major political upheaval that became a big attraction at Expo ’74. Then a staunch ally of the United States, but today a geopolitical foe, Iran brought a contingent to host its lavish pavilion in Spokane.

King Cole, the leader of the Expo effort, and his wife, Jan, were invited to visit the shah and queen in Iran and made the trip to Tehran. After a long tour of their historic sites, they met Queen Farah, a champion of Iranian culture, who wondered why they had not brought their eight children along! Nonetheless, the relationship was cemented, and Iran shared its culture throughout the fair.

In just four short years, however, Iranians rose up against the monarchy; in January 1979, Shah Mohammad Reza and Queen Farah fled Iran for good — along with many of their countrymen and women who were suddenly displaced. Soon the Islamic Republic of Iran was in control; later that year, 53 American hostages were taken by revolutionaries, a saga that dominated American media as they were held for more than a year. Today the Islamic Republic of Iran is among the United States’ most difficult adversaries. Iran’s season in Spokane perhaps remains the high point of the relationship over the past 50 years.

—TED S. McGREGOR JR.

MAKING HISTORY

CONNECTING COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER OF THE CELEBRATION EXPO 74

Developed around the YMCA

“We have churches, we have stores, we have auto body shops, we have people that can help find jobs — it just kind of grew this community,” Eberly says.

Spokane’s Slavic and Russianspeaking community has continued to grow in recent years. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, at least 2,200 Ukrainian refugees have come to Spokane. A number of Russian refugees have also sought asylum in Spokane.

Eberly still has fond memories of Expo and his time with the Soviets. He was vegetarian at the time and recalls the chefs going out of their way to make omelets and other vegetarianfriendly food for him.

“It was a great time, definitely one of the highlights of that part of my life,” Eberly says. “It’s one thing to study a language in a classroom… it’s another thing to take that language actually into a workplace and be able to use that language and be able to communicate.”

Additional reporting by Samantha Wohlfeil

SPORTS

COMPETITIONS AT EXPO ’74

(AT THE COLISEUM AND JOE ALBI STADIUM)

Championship Skaters of the USSR

Championship Gymnastics of the Soviet Union with Olga Korbut

Expo ’74

Rodeo & Wild West Show

Japanese Ancient Martial Arts

Denver Broncos v. New England Patriots

preseason NFL

Soviet National Basketball v. U.S. College All Stars

WSU Cougars v. Kansas Jayhawks football

Seattle Supersonics NBA exhibition

Republic of China (Taiwan)

Acrobatic Spectacular

WSU Cougars v. USC Trojans football

The YMCA made a significant decision in 1957, selecting Havermale Island as the site for their new building. This strategic choice would later intersect with the iconic EXPO '74 grounds.

Today, the YMCA proudly stands as a beacon of community and wellness, embodying a rich connection to Spokane’s vibrant history.

CAUSE CONNECTION COMMUNITY

Docents at the Iranian Pavilion showing off the kind of Persian artifacts visitors could see. NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTO

ABOVE LEFT: Looking at the serene south channel of the Spokane River today, it’s hard to imagine the tangle of railroad and industrial uses that once dominated the scene.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

ABOVE: The tame, elegant Theme Stream is one element of Expo’s landscape design by Thomas Adkison that is still in place today. Also, to better connect visitors to the wildest part of the Spokane River — and the fair’s environmental theme — two pedestrian bridges were built.

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTOS

LOWER LEFT: An even more immersive view of Spokane Falls could be had on a trip down into the gorge on the gondola Skyride, which remains a top attraction at Riverfront Park.

KEITH OKA ART

Spokane River

T he SPOKANE RIVER has been drawing people to its power for millennia. A fishery and gathering place for native tribes, the Spokane Falls were also what attracted James Glover to start a settlement here. Falling water was a key element to any successful Western outpost, as it could power mills and generate electricity.

Early city leaders hired the Olmsted Brothers to advise them on how to create a world-class parks system. In their 1913 report, the legendary landscape architects saw beauty where settlers saw utility, writing that “nothing is so firmly impressed on the mind of the visitor to Spokane … as the great gorge into which the river falls.”

While the report did result in a lot of great parks, when it came to the river, Spokane pretty much ignored the Olmsteds’ advice. In the decades to come, a tangle of railroads and industrial uses grew up unabated along its banks; the river more or less an open sewer. The blight was impossible to ignore.

When the efforts at urban renewal that would turn into a world’s fair started in the 1960s, those old ideas started making sense again. So the overriding goal of the entire Expo effort — the linchpin that created consensus and gave it momentum — was to reveal the Spokane River and its spectacular falls.

— TED S. McGREGOR JR.

The Great Northern Depot (left) and the Union Pacific Rail Depot had the Spokane River hemmed in for decades before they were demolished when the railyards were relocated for Expo. MAC PHOTO

Goat City

Riverfront Park’s famous metal goat has made discarding trash an exciting pastime for five decades now

BY COLTON RASANEN

For half a century now, one corner of Riverfront Park has been slightly cleaner than the rest. This can likely be attributed to the quirky metal billy goat with a vacuum in its mouth feeding a trash bin.

But where did it come from?

Former Inlander staffer Daniel Walters once surmised that the garbage-eating goat was created by ancient Greek gods when the world was born. And while Walters may have had the timeline off by a few millennia, he was on the right track in assuming the goat’s existence had something to do with divine intervention.

That’s because the goat was crafted by Spokane’s welding nun, Sister Paula Mary Turnbull. Originally from Seattle, Turnbull called the Spokane’s Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary convent home for much of her life.

Besides being a valued member of Spokane’s religious community, Turnbull was also a celebrated sculptor. Her works can be found throughout the region, like the sasquatch statue at Spokane Community College or the

sculpture in Browne’s Addition of 19th-century Spokanite Anna Stratton Browne and her daughter.

“I am an artist because I can’t not do art,” Turnbull told the Spokesman-Review in 2002. “It is a gift from God to be developed and shared.”

However, the Garbage Goat remains one of Turnbull’s most famous artworks. It was created in conjunction with Expo ’74, when she was appointed to the event’s Visual Advisory Committee. Since the worldwide event was environmentally themed, Turnbull thought the Garbage Goat would be a fun way to encourage kids to keep the land clear of garbage and teach them a lesson in cleanliness, as noted in local historian Bill Youngs’ book, The Fair and the Falls

“Any child who grew up in Spokane since 1974 probably knows the goat,” Turnbull told the Spokesman-Review in 2007. “When I meet children now, and they learn I was the one who made the goat, well, I suddenly get to be 10 feet tall in their eyes.”

Today, the garbage-sucking sculpture can still be

found in its original spot on the south side of Riverfront Park. Find the rust-colored landmark east of the Looff Carrousel, tucked inside a basalt structure called Goat Grotto.

The Garbage Goat’s mere existence brings unusual joy to the everyday act of discarding trash, but it was initially met with opposition from goat farmers nationwide. Namely because dairy goats don’t actually eat garbage, even though Turnbull clarified that the Garbage Goat is a billy goat.

During Expo’s leadup, Kent Leach, editor of Scottsdale, Arizona’s Dairy Goat Journal, wrote that the garbage goat was “degrading, debasing, and grossly misleading” because dairy goats “are most fastidious in their eating habits.” The goat even drew criticism from a 7-year-old Spokanite who claimed that even he knew that dairy goats didn’t actually eat garbage, according to The Fair and the Falls

Regardless, the sculpture/garbage receptacle has been a stalwart figure in the last 50 years of Spokane’s storied history — and other parts of Washington, too. In 2002, Kennewick added its own sculpture “Billy the Garbage Goat” at the city’s Columbia Park.

Turnbull’s influence, or more so the Garbage Goat’s influence, in the Inland Northwest is pervasive. It’s the namesake of Iron Goat Brewing, which was co-founded in 2012 by Paul Edminster and Greg and Heather Brandt. At the time, they got Turnbull’s blessing for the brewery’s name, Greg Brandt says.

“It might seem like an odd choice, but the goat is an amazing piece of art, and it shows Spokane’s unique nature and appreciation for art,” the brewery’s website says of its namesake.

In 2014, Spokane held a 40th birthday party for the Garbage Goat. At the festivities, it was revealed that the goat had eaten almost 15,000 cubic yards of trash since its installation. All in attendance gleefully sang “Happy Birthday,” and afterward Turnbull fed her creation a piece of cake.

Turnbull died in 2018 at age 97, but her legacy lives on through her art.

While you can’t spot the Garbage Goat from vantage points around the city like the Pavilion or Clock Tower, it continues to serve as a steady reminder of Expo ’74’s focus on protecting our environment for future generations. So pick up that small piece of trash at your feet and go give that brassy billy goat a snack.

Kids have been approaching the Garbage Goat with a mix of fear and delight ever since 1974.

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTO

Family-owned and operated small business…

…Now in our third generation.

LastingMemories

Many Expo ’74 souvenirs are still easy to find; collectors have White Elephant founder John Conley Sr. to thank for that

BY CHEY SCOTT

For happening in the smallest city to ever host a world’s fair, Spokane’s Expo ’74 sure had a lot of commemorative stuff.

Lapel pins, postcards, pennants, miniature spoons, decorative tea cups and saucers galore. Colorful plastic wallets, commemorative coins, salt and pepper shaker sets, flags, and ashtrays aplenty. Over 900 unique souvenir items were sold at a dozen stands across the fairgrounds, according to world’s fair historian Bill Cotter.

Stop at any local antique or vintage store or hop online to eBay and you, too, can become the proud owner of a ceramic Jim Beam whiskey bottle in the shape of the Great Northern Clock Tower (its contents long gone) along with many other pieces of kitschy Expo ’74-branded merchandise.

While some of the 50-year-old knickknacks are more easily found than others, collectors can thank one Spokane man for making sure plenty of the fair’s souvenirs remain accessible decades later.

John R. Conley Sr., founder of Spokane’s now-closed the White Elephant surplus stores, purchased the whole lot of leftover merchandise — more than 280,000 unsold units in total — for $28,000 in November 1974. There were enough boxes to fill a massive warehouse, plus a semi trailer. Considering the fair’s environmental focus, it’s fitting that none of this bulk ended up in the trash.

For decades after, those who attended the fair and maybe regretted not picking up a memento then, or folks simply seeking a piece of Spokane history for super cheap, the White Elephant’s Expo ’74 memorabilia corner was a reliable and affordable trove. Conley, who died in 2017, kept his prices low, too, with most items marked at a fraction of the original cost.

In her South Hill home, Mary Conley displays some of the Expo ’74 memorabilia her late husband acquired alongside framed portraits of their large family. Behind a mauve velvet sofa in the living room is

an especially rare lacquered wood wall hanging of Expo ’74’s Möbius strip logo by renowned artist John Pitre. This piece and a couple others like it were never sold as fair souvenirs, according to her daughters Maureen Smith and Therese O’Rourk, but the lot John Conley bought also came with some leftovers used for display or promotional purposes.

Mary recently celebrated her 95th birthday and says she’s looking forward to visiting the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture’s retrospective Expo ’74 exhibit (learn more on page 52 of this Expo section), and the 50th Celebration kickoff at Riverfront Park on May 4.

“It means a lot,” she says, to have helped preserve pieces of Expo’s physical legacy. “I was born and raised in Spokane, and so was my dad. So it all means a great deal that we had a part of it.”

“I know our dad talked about the worry he had after he made that investment, but he never saw it all as stuff,”

Mary Conley with the mounds of memorabilia that has marked her family history since November 1974.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

The official Expo Medallion, featuring the Mobius logo; on the other side is an original design by the late George Tsutakawa, a revered Seattle artist and brother to Spokane’s own Ed Tsutakawa.

THINGS COST IN 1974

The economy was pretty rocky in 1974, with the OPEC oil embargo on, pushing inflation to 11%; unemployment was at 7.2% and rising. Still, prices 50 years ago are a little shocking — but keep in mind the average annual income was about $11,000 per year, with the minimum wage at $2 per hour.

A home: $38,000

A month of rent: $150

A gallon of gas: 53¢ (up from 36¢ in 1972)

A loaf of bread: 28¢

A postage stamp: 10¢ A McDonald’s Big Mac: 65¢ A one-day ticket to Disneyland: $7.30 An Elton John concert ticket: $8.50 A Schwinn Varsity 10-speed bike: $108.95 A Chevy Corvette: $6,000

Whether you’re catching a game, playing a game or just drinking a delicious microbrew, we’ve got you covered!

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“LASTING

MEMORIES,” CONTINUED...

adds O’Rourk, the youngest of the Conley’s 11 children.

“Some of our employees or our siblings would open boxes and be like, ‘Oh, why do we have all this stuff?’ He never saw it as a burden, he always just had so much joy and so much fun selling that stuff, and having it and finding new treasures, because even then you’d open a box and find something that you’ve never seen before,” she continues. “And I know for me, because I was not even 3 during Expo, so all I knew growing up was all this stuff — it was just a part of our DNA.”

The Conleys themselves spent many afternoons exploring the world’s fair as season pass holders.

“I picked up the children after school, and we’d go over there,” Mary says. “Probably every night for the fun of it.”

Although the White Elephant, too, is now a relic of Spokane’s past, the legacy of its Expo stash lives on.

After closing their two stores (on North Division Street and East Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley) in 2020, the Conleys liquidated the meager remains of their once-massive Expo souvenir haul, passing it on to another local with an appreciation for regional history and kitsch.

Josh Morrisey has been collecting Expo ’74 memorabilia and historical “old Spokane” ephemera for about a decade now. He met the Conleys while working on a project through his job as Spokane Parks & Recre ation’s marketing coordinator to place one of the White Elephant’s mechanical elephant rides inside the Looff Carrousel’s new building.

Many of Morrisey’s Expo artifacts are displayed throughout his cubicle on the sixth floor of City Hall. A prized and hard-to-find piece of the collection is a plastic piggy bank shaped like the Clock Tower. He’s also got a couple of small rectangular pieces of the Pavilion’s origi nal white roof with the Expo logo and “Authentic Piece of the U.S. Pavilion Roof” printed on the front.

“I get surprised all the time how much stuff there is, stuff that’s like, ‘Why did people want that?’ Like a mini rake and shovel set that’s like [6 inches] big,” he says. “Or the hot dog holder. It’s amazing the amount of stuff.”

But Morrisey’s not hoarding all that old White Elephant Expo swag for himself — he’s also a vendor at Boo Radley’s gift shop downtown where he stocks a small “Expo Zone” with glass trinket trays, flags, decals and more.

“If people have been to White Elephant in the last 10 years, they’re probably familiar with it,” he says of the stock he bought from the Conleys. “I’d say it’s more quantity than variety, and some stuff I have thousands of, like the maps and official programs. I have hundreds of ashtrays. I have hundreds of the teacup-and-saucer sets. But I’m always keeping my eye out for stuff, whether it’s on Craigslist or word of mouth or eBay, and I’m always putting one-off stuff in there just to keep it fresh.”

The Conleys didn’t liquidate their entire stash, though. A limited selection of Expo ’74 goods are also still listed for sale via an online White Elephant storefront, whiteelephantstores.com, including that aforementioned Clock Tower-shaped whiskey decanter for $40.

“There’s a lot of people who will say they got the last of it, but in the end no one will ever get the last of it,” says O’Rourk, the youngest Conley daughter. “Dad would always say that to people to make them feel special.”

“I wish dad was here. He’d be 97,” her sister Smith adds. “He would be loving this, and as we were pulling stuff out — too much stuff — we thought, ‘Well, this is what dad would do.’”

This one was popular, seeing how it was full of Jim Beam.

Also hard to find: actual Expo-branded clothing from 1974.

TREEHOUSE

‘River, Do You Remember?’

BY E.J. IANNELLI

Tribes from across the region — and even farther afield — came to Spokane in 1974 to share their culture and turn the page on a dark chapter for the environment

The region’s Native American community came out in force during Expo ’74, resulting in one of the event’s most popular attractions. However, according to Spokane tribal member Margo Hill, their official involvement was largely an “afterthought,” a sentiment that was captured in The Fair and the Falls, Bill Youngs’ historical account of the world’s fair in Spokane. Hill was just 6 years old when Expo ’74 took place. Now interim director of American Indian Studies and associate professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Eastern Washington University, she recalls the way that the indigenous community viewed the event, the activities they hosted and a few of the less-talked-about aspects of the fair — including some run-ins with nearby loggers.

INLANDER: When the Indigenous community was finally invited to participate, was that offer viewed with skepticism, or was there a sense that this would be an opportunity to increase tribal visibility and authentically share your culture with others?

MARGO HILL: On our part, it was genuine. Once our tribes were involved, we took it really seriously that we could educate our neighbors and return to the city. Originally, you know, from the time I was growing up and even as far back as [the days of] horse and buggy, there was very much a dusk-till-dawn expectation that people of color — Natives — couldn’t be in the city. I can remember being little and going to restaurants and White people staring at us. It was almost like a spectacle to see Brown people in the city. We just weren’t welcome.

So the Spokane Tribe was very, very interested in coming back into the city and not only sharing our culture but doing our ceremonies in our homelands. To be on our riverbanks and to sing our songs and to do our dances and perform our ceremonies — to have that again was really important.

So participating in Expo ’74 was a bit like a reclamation or a homecoming?

Yes, very much so. All the tribes felt that. It was an

opportunity for us to come back into the city and educate non-Indians and share our culture. There were times that the Coeur d’Alene came in and danced. There were Makah that came over from the coast. At the opening ceremonies, there were two Quinault dugout canoes there. And then also Joe Washington and his family came and sang some of the coastal [tribal] songs. We had excellent representation at the world’s fair. And people loved coming to watch the tribal dances and songs and ceremonies. We even had a mock wedding. Gib[son] Eli, one of our medicine man spiritual leaders, did a symbolic wedding between Carol Evans and Mike Seyler. We were one of the most well-attended attractions.

Clearly, many local and regional tribes participated, and you could say there was a shared experience among the Indigenous community. What are some of your personal memories from that time?

For me as a 6-year-old, it was the unity of the local

...continued on page 44

Totem poles brought from coastal tribes greeted visitors to the U.S. Pavilion during Expo.

OF ARTS

CULTURE PHOTO

Expo ’74 was the first World’s Fair to focus on environmental issues. During its 50th anniversary, you can participate in our community conversations discussing how individuals, neighborhoods, and municipalities can take action to prepare for the impacts of the climate crisis. Share your concerns, ask questions, and exchange ideas.

Discussion presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters Spokane Area.

VARIOUS LIBRARIES

May 8–June 27

Find locations, days & times at www.scld.org/expo-74-events

“RIVER, DO YOU REMEMBER?,” CONTINUED...

tribes and a belonging for our people as we joined the circle. My family was very involved. My great-grandmother, Sadie Boyd, told the history. And then my grandmother was interpreting from the Salish language. Of course, my great-grandmother could speak English, but when it came to some historical things, she wanted to speak in her native language and have my grandmother interpret for her. My great grandmother also said that she was very glad that President Nixon visited the opening of Expo. She helped line up the dancers and really helped get folks ready for the war dance and ceremony.

But every day we had our powwow pavilion where we had different aspects of our culture. And we had another grandmother, Etta Adams, who was the whip woman. The family called her “Big Mom,” and she had a stick with a horse tail on the front of it. She made sure that we children didn’t horse around on the dance floor [and] that we weren’t running around or chewing bubble gum.

In a recent update to The Fair and the Falls, you shared the frustrating experience of being stationed right next to the loggers during Expo ’74.

Yeah, unfortunately, somebody thought it was a good idea to put the loggers right next to us. My great-

grandmother or somebody would be telling our history or praying, and they would fire up their chainsaws. And so there was lots of confrontation. We’d have to scream at them [over the noise] to shut it down. I don’t know that they were doing it intentionally, but if you have a tribal elder that’s telling a history or a story, you need to be respectful of that.

A few months back, when Bill Youngs contacted me, I e-mailed him that story. He’s included it in the new foreword to his book. Because there’s a lot of aspects of the fair that people don’t talk about, right?

What are some of those other unspoken aspects?

Well, if you look at social justice issues [around Expo ’74], the other thing is that we wiped out Chinatown. There was a significant Asian population, and we just moved them out to make room for construction projects. So, you know, here they are, trying to maybe redress some of these historical injustices by reaching out to the Indigenous community, even though it was kind of an afterthought, and yet here you have Chinatown [known as Trent Alley] eradicated for Expo.

The environmental theme of Expo ’74 seems like it would tie into Indigenous culture and priorities. Was there excitement around that?

Each of our [Spokane tribal] bands are named in relationship to the river: the Upper, Sntʔtʔúlix , the Middle, Snx me nʔey, and the Lower, Scqesciłni. The Spokane River was Nx Wl Wl tsuten, which is like our way of life. For thousands of years, we had gathered on its banks to fish. A hundred natives would swell to 300. Fifteen thousand pounds of salmon would be drying on the banks of the Spokane River. Our salmon got to the size of 80 pounds. My grandmother would talk about when a salmon would hang from a saddle horn of a horse. It would almost touch the ground.

sewage going right into the water.

So to hear the non-native say, “Oh, it’s going to be an environmentally themed expo, and we’re going to clean up the river,” we were ecstatic to hear that because it had been a long time coming. You know, there’s a famous quote [in The Fair and the Falls] from [Spokane tribal Chief] Alex Sherwood, who said, “River Spirit, you fed our people. You answered our call. I walk your banks and I shout, ‘River, do you remember?’” He was essentially asking the spirit to remember the way things used to be. And so, for Expo ’74 to finally to clean up the city and the riverbanks and stop polluting, that was all really important. And given the timing, with the passage of NEPA [the National Environmental Policy Act] and the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, the world’s fair was seen as the culmination of a lot of things.

Fifty years on, issues of environmental and social justice persist, but one area of progress is that the tribal pillar has been integral to the event planning. What are some of the ways that tribes are participating in these anniversary celebrations?

But the hydropower projects had been devastating to our communities. And then we saw this constant contamination. For decades, our tribal people watched the degradation of the Spokane River. We saw the pollution — you know, municipal waste and

On our committee, we have all the different tribes: Spokane, Colville, Kalispel, Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai, but also Blackfeet, Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Gros Ventre. And we’re all working together behind the scenes to make this happen. We have a whole range of events. Warren Seyler, who is a former Spokane tribal chairman, is going to be sharing some of the history. We’ll have traditional songs with a hand drum. There’s spoken word events where we’re going to be having indigenous poetry and native authors. We’re going to be bringing over a theater company from Seattle called Red Eagle Soaring. We’re even going to have a Native American music festival and a fashion show. And what this does is it gives tribal people an opportunity to showcase our talents, which is just super exciting. There’s so much talent in Indian country that you don’t see in Spokane. We want our neighbors to come and learn and really experience tribal culture. It’s a great opportunity for tribal members as well as city residents here in Spokane.

Learn more about all Expo 50 events, which run through July 4, at Expo50Spokane.com

Through the entire run of Expo, the NATIVE AMERICAN’S EARTH exhibit introduced visitors to the regional tribes that have, for millennia, called the lands around the fairgrounds home. But it went way farther than that, as representatives from at least 100 different tribes from all over North America came to meet up and/or perform — even Aztecs from central Mexico made the trip. (Though they got lost and arrived a week late, they quickly became one of the fair’s can’t-miss attractions.)

Located as part of the Folklife Festival, which was affiliated with the Smithsonian, local tribes were tasked with creating the programming. The call went out, and as Expo historian Bill Youngs put it, the tribal exhibits and shows quickly became “the most popular events at the world’s fair.”

Russian gold-medal gymnast Olga Korbut famously stopped by and joined in a tribal dance. Squamish tribal elder Moses Antone of British Columbia came to share the nearly lost art of longhouse construction. Born while Spokane Garry was still alive, Antone recruited his kids, his grandchildren and local Spokane tribal members to create a spiritual centerpiece for Native American’s Earth. The longhouse is visible on the poster promoting the exhibit now in the MAC’s Expo Collection. And if you look a little closer, you’ll see the artist’s name on the poster, too — a man who would go on to become one of the most celebrated local Native American artists: “George Flett, Spokane.”

— TED S. McGREGOR JR.

Turn That Frown Upside Down!

Mention UP WITH PEOPLE and those of a certain era may immediately begin singing the group’s ear-worm of a theme song: “Up, up with people! You meet ’em wherever you go!”

A cast of the squeaky clean and relentlessly cheerful touring group was in residence at Expo ’74 from May to October, sponsored by General Electric. A promotional video, preserved on YouTube, shows the cast dancing and singing its way across the fairgrounds.

The women sashay in hot pink baby doll dresses (complete with suntan pantyhose), while the dudes frolic in maroon polyester pants with matching vests. (To see it for yourself, search YouTube for “Up with People Expo Spokane.”)

Reacting to a show preview in March 1974, Spokane Daily Chronicle writer Harriet J. Connor was impressed. “The show is bright, light and full of plenty of zing and zap.”

Up with People casts went on to perform in 771 cities in all 50 states on their Bicentennial Tour from September 1975 to July 1976. Super Bowl halftime shows have featured Up with People five times. Those appearances were parodied on The Simpsons when, to Homer’s delight, “Hooray for Everything” performs a halftime “salute to the greatest hemisphere on earth: The Western Hemisphere! The dancingest hemisphere of all!”

Nearly 60 years after it was founded, Up with People is still around — and still cheerful — as they state on LinkedIn: “Intentional community, creativity & the arts, and determined optimism are at the heart of UWP. Young people can do incredible things when we act together, get creative and remain unapologetically hopeful.”

— ANNE McGREGOR

The 1970s sensation Up With People took up residence in Spokane for the run of the world’s fair. NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTOS

Expo Time Capsules

Expo ’74 brought a lot of great flavors to Spokane. There was a Bavarian bier and brats hall, authentic Russian and Slavic food and a real French restaurant run by an actual native of Tours, France. Located on the Spokane River overlooking the clock tower. Frenchman Pierre Parker’s dad was killed in World War II, and he relocated to California with his mom, who taught him to cook. He ran a restaurant in Laguna Beach and was then somehow bitten by the world’s fair bug.

Dorothy Powers documented his journey in a January 1974 article for the Spokesman-Review: He ran French restaurants at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962; at New York’s in 1964; at Montreal in ’67; and at the HemisFair in San Antonio in 1968. In Spokane, he opened PIERRE’S INTERLUDE. His secret? “Since everything is cooked only with butter, wine and cheese, all dishes are good,” he told Powers.

One night during Expo, as related in The Fair and the Falls, King Cole and his wife, Jan, were walking back from a show, all dressed up, passing Pierre’s Interlude.

“The fairgrounds were closed,” Cole recalled. “It was a beautiful moon that night, warm.” Pierre came out and said, “Come here, I want to give you something.”

He guided them to a table by the water, disappeared for a bit and returned — with two French desserts. “Now just sit…” Parker told the man who had not stopped running, year after year, to transform the very landscape he could now marvel at.

“And relax.”

— TED S. McGREGOR

JR.

Real Idaho miners showed kids how to pan for gold; every now and then someone would find a real nugget.

Living History

Next door to Native American’s Earth (see page 44), visitors could connect with other facets of living Pacific Northwest culture and history. Loosely affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL was a massive project to track down examples of regional folklife that could be transported to the fair. Manhattanbased art teacher and filmmaker Bob Glatzer took the job to lead the effort. Upon arriving, he immersed himself in the setting, moving into a house on the Spokane River in Peaceful Valley.

“We had about 30 groups in all,” Glatzer told the Inlander in 1999. “Basques from Boise, the Doukhobors [from British Columbia] and a group of Russian Old Believers from Oregon. We were an odd appendage to the world’s fair. Nobody in the Expo Corporation had any idea what we we did or why we were there. All they knew was that we were a great draw. It changed every day, sometimes every hour.”

Glatzer never left Spokane and became a mainstay of the local arts scene until his death in 2010.

— TED S. McGREGOR JR.

The Soundtrack of ’74

In promoting the world’s fair, organizers saw music as a way to entice people to “meet… by

the river” at Expo ’74

subject of love, but ultimately the winning submission focused intently on Spokane’s sense of place.

“Meet Me by the River” by local organist and composer Jean Anthony Greif, a lively marching tune, portrayed the site of the fair as organizers hoped it would be seen with a call to action hard to refuse.

Meet me by the river,

At the International Exposition, Meet me at the Spokane Falls, Expo Seventy-Four!

BY WILL MAUPIN

Music was one of many attractions at Expo ’74, with big-name artists including Gordon Lightfoot, Helen Reddy and Buck Owens, among countless others entertaining visitors throughout its six-month run. While those performers and their work remain popular to this day, the songs written for Expo ’74, and the people behind them, have largely fallen into obscurity.

To help promote the fair — a fair which many outside of the region felt too ambitious for a city of Spokane’s modest size — organizers turned to music to get the word out.

Promotional records were pressed and a contest for an official theme song was launched. Bob Bellows and Dale Miller, who recorded the promotional records, and Jean Anthony Greif, who composed the contest-winning theme song, were some of the musicians behind the sound of Expo ’74.

Their work set the sonic scene for Spokane’s moment on the world’s stage.

RAINBOWS PLAY IN SILVER SPRAY

The contest to find an official theme song for Expo ’74 garnered two-dozen submissions, with entries touching on everything from topics of the day like Vietnam to the timeless

With imagery of rainbows in the spray of the falls under open skies of clean Western air, Greif’s composition tied the locale together with the environmental purpose of Expo ’74. Local high school marching bands and choirs performed the tune during the opening ceremony, just after President Richard Nixon declared the fair “officially open to all the citizens of the world” from the floating dock next to the then-brand-new Opera House.

Born in 1898, Greif grew up around the Inland Northwest, from Walla Walla to Uniontown and Missoula, before heading east to study the organ in Chicago. By the time he settled in Spokane, Greif was an established organist who would play during the silent film era at the Liberty and Fox theaters downtown.

After the silent era, Greif became a composer and publisher of religious music through his Vernacular Hymns Publishing Company on Northwest Boulevard. His 1966 composition, “We are the Light of the World,” became popular in churches around the country and is still sung and covered to this day. Greif died in Spokane in 1981.

THE CITY WHERE YOU CAN

In Santa Fe, they’ll “get nervous and run away,” while around San Francisco Bay they’ll consider it but ultimately “flit away.” In “old St. Lou” you’ll be met with a frown while up in Duluth it’s “more or less considered couth.”

“But you can, yes you can, in Spokane.”

Even though his rhyming of “can” with “Spokane” isn’t exactly clever, it was certainly helpful for visitors unsure of the proper pronunciation.

An ad in the Spokane Chronicle promoted an appearance by the “national recording artist” at the fair, where spectators could hear Bellows perform his two “hits” about Expo ’74, “Stranger at the Fair” and “Yes, You Can in Spokane” and pick up a signed copy of the record.

The songs were pressed onto a souvenir vinyl 45 with a sleeve featuring a portrait of Bellows, an image of the skyline, and a box to write “to” and “from” for those who wanted to spread the word about Expo. Fifty thousand copies were produced, but fewer than 2,000 had sold by fair’s end.

MUSIC HIT SONGS FROM 1974

“The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand

“When Will I Be Loved” by Linda Ronstadt

“Annie’s Song” by John Denver

“Lady Marmalade” by LaBelle

“Midnight at the Oasis” by Maria Muldaur

“Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede

“Let Me Be There” by Olivia Newton John

“Rock the Boat” by Hues Corporation

“Waterloo” by ABBA

“Can’t Get It Out of My Head” by Electric Light Orchestra

Bob Bellows was born Robert Brusen in Menomonie, Wisconsin, in 1926. A veteran of World War II, he found mild success as a touring vocalist in the decades that followed before having his life transformed by the Baha’i faith in 1970. Bellows continued recording music, including his pair of songs for Expo ’74, after his conversion. He died in 2020 at the age of 93.

TEACHING ABOUT ECOLOGY

While not the official theme song nor as promoted as the Bellows’ record, guitarist Dale Miller’s pair of songs about Expo ’74 captured the environmental impetus behind the fair better than any other.

The $2 souvenir record Dale Sings Songs of the Fair City was packaged in a sleek, modern sleeve in the colors of the fair — green for plants, blue for water and white for air. Its two tracks, in a classic country-western style with acoustic guitar melodies and steel guitar accompaniment, laid out Expo’s promise of “teaching the world about ecology.”

Born in 1935, Miller grew up in Priest River before moving to the nearby town of Clark Fork in his early adult years. It was there that the small record label Alpine pressed his promotional record for Expo. Miller died in 2011 at the age of 75.

In “Expo ’74,” Miller sings of how “Spokane will show the world how we’re clearing up the land.” His music may have faded into relative obscurity — a video on YouTube misidentifies a different song for his Expo record — but his subject matter certainly has not.

That land Miller sang of, now Riverfront Park, remains to this day closer to nature and cleaner than it was during its industrial past life, all thanks to the work of Expo ’74.

Search YouTube for “EXPO 74 Theme Song - by Dale Miller (Spokane World’s Fair 1974).”

LEGACY

is downtown

In 1974, downtown Spokane was transformed forever when a former railyard hosted the World’s Fair, giving rise to the iconic Riverfront Park. This landmark event not only fueled economic growth but also ignited a spirit of unity and dedication to urban preservation.

Fifty years later, the Downtown Spokane Partnership takes pride in carrying forward the enduring legacy of Expo ‘74.

because spokane is downtown

explore downtown at downtownspokane.org

Expo Time Capsules Basket Case

Expo’s Friendly Fossil

“There are not many artifacts of Expo left,” a local man told the Spokesman-Review back in 2014. “We want to make sure they stay around. To me, THE DINOSAUR BONE should be on the list to consider.”

Expo brought in a ton of renowned artists to help create a fresh, new environment around downtown Spokane and the fairgrounds. One was Charles W. Smith, who created a sculpture for the world’s fair that became known as the Dinosaur Bone. Smith was a fine artist and also founded the industrial design program at the University of Washington, where he taught for more than 40 years.

Kids — including me as a 9-year-old — loved to play on the Bone. You could slip down its sides, jump off it — epic kid stuff. But in the years after Expo, some grown-ups got to feeling that it was too dangerous. Some serious injuries were reported. In 2011, it was removed from the playground outside the YMCA (before that building was torn down to create more parkland) and banished to a Parks & Recreation storage yard.

Fast-forward to 2014, and Spokane voted to spend $64 million to renovate Riverfront Park, the public space left behind by the world’s fair effort. I volunteered as the chairman of the Park Board’s Riverfront Park Committee, and I was that local man getting grilled by the Review’s reporter.

A lot of impressive work was done by some of the best in the business to get our park back up to snuff, and one of those firms was the Berger Partnership, which was responsible for the landscape design of the award-winning renovation. Guy Michaelson was the lead landscape architect — and a fan of the Dinosaur Bone. I’m not sure how, but without much fanfare Michaelson managed to free it from captivity. It just appeared near the new Ice Age Floods Playground around the time it opened on the north bank in 2021. As it should be: an original feature of the fairgrounds, back where it belongs.

— TED S. McGREGOR JR.

Just a few days before Expo ’74’s opening ceremonies, another lasting local landmark made its debut when NORDSTROM SPOKANE and RIVER PARK SQUARE shopping mall both opened their doors to the public on May 1, 1974.

One of the items sold at Nordstrom Spokane in those early days was this folk art-inspired wooden basket purse by the popular Caro Nan brand, featuring colorful row house-style buildings with Spokane, Expo and Northwestcentric signage hand painted on it. Decoupage strips of international travel destinations and other collaged paper cutouts on the lid — along with a penny minted in 1973, for good luck and to show the year the basket was created — evoke the allure of travel.

Caro Nan’s sturdy purses were the creative output of two Jackson, Mississippi-based best friends, Carolyn McDaniel and Nancy Steele — the company’s name combines their first names. They became coveted accessories after launching in the mid-1960s. For each city the purses were made for, artists (the company employed women who hand painted the baskets in their homes) customized the building’s storefront signs to evoke a sense of place. Likewise, the name of the store where these region-specific baskets were sold was painted on the inside lid.

This particular Caro Nan purse designed for Spokane and Expo was not only sold at Nordstrom Spokane sometime after its 1974 debut, but it was originally owned by Norma Lindsay, wife of Expo ’74 Chairman Rod Lindsay.

— CHEY SCOTT

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTO

The Cosmic Jumper

Expo ’74 was the subject of an actual U.S. Postal Service stamp — then just 10¢. Even better, PETER MAX did the artwork. Max was born in Berlin in 1937, but his Jewish family fled the Nazis and settled in Brooklyn. In the years since, he’s done album covers, a mural on a chunk of the Berlin Wall and even painted the hull of a cruise ship. His character “Cosmic Jumper” is the subject of the Expo stamp; The New York Times wrote that, Max’s “DayGlo-inflected posters became wallpaper for the turn on, tune in, drop out generation.”

— TED S. MCGREGOR JR.

Expo ’74’s commemorative stamp got the full 1970s treatment, with day-glo colors and a groovy, cosmic vibe.

A rare 1974 artifact: the Caro Nan Expo purse.

LESLIE DOUGLAS PHOTO

Exhibiting Expo

Along with the MAC’s new exhibit, there are plenty of ways to reminisce about Expo ’74 this summer

EBY MADISON PEARSON

xpo ’74 came and went in just nine months, but it left an enduring legacy on the landscape and history of Spokane. The city skyline boasts two major reminders of Expo: the Clocktower and the Pavilion. Both represent a significant time in regional history, but where did all the other remnants of Expo go after the fair ended?

Beginning on Saturday, May 4, and running through January 2025, museumgoers can explore the world of 1974 Spokane through the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture’s new exhibit, “It Happened Here: Expo ’74 Fifty Years Later,” which features hundreds of items and archival materials that mostly sat in storage for nearly 50 years.

Anna Harbine, the MAC’s Johnston-Fix Curator of Archives and Special Collections, was tasked with going through the museum’s Expo archives starting in 2021 when 50th-anniversary exhibit planning kicked into high gear.

“This project has been a long time coming,” Harbine says. “We applied for grants during COVID so that we could begin to process everything we had.”

She says that after the fair ended, boxes and boxes of employee records, architectural plans and memorabilia were given to the Cheney Cowles Museum (which became the MAC in 2001). Other objects were left behind in the Pavilion until it was remodeled in 2019.

“There are about 300 boxes of archival materials,” Harbine says. “A good amount of that, about 240 boxes, contain corporate records, and another 40 are full of film from KXLY and other sources.”

In addition to “It Happened Here,” the MAC is also showing selections of archival film from Expo ’74 in a side gallery. “Films from the Vault” has been showing since January, but will include newly discovered films in celebration of the 50th anniversary exhibition.

Along with receipts from various corporations and historic photos, the exhibit features a few pieces that Harbine says are particularly special.

1970s Vibes

“There is, of course, hate mail surrounding Nixon speaking at the opening ceremonies,” she says. “There’s also a bowl made by Harold Balazs that looks unlike anything he’s known for — it’s so not his typical style. We found so many amazing connections when going through the archives.”

The 1970s were all about the vibes. Peace, love and great music were all it took to have a good time. Experience a slice of the ’70s at this pop-up speakeasy where guests are invited to imbibe and have an absolutely groovy time. Hosted at Riverfront Park’s newest piece of public art, Stepwell, the unique event will have vibrant lighting, video projection, a dance floor, a host of Spokane DJs and, of course, local wine, beer and specialty cocktails. All proceeds benefit the Spokane Parks Foundation and Riverfront Park to keep the grounds of Expo ’74 looking beautiful, even 50 years later. The speakeasy will only be open for select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in May, so make advance reservations if you’re looking to boogie on a specific night.

Club ’74 Speakeasy • May 3-19; Fri-Sun from 6-11 pm • 21+; May 19 is all ages • $10; free with a Club ’74 membership • Riverfront Park • 507 N. Howard St. • expo50spokane.com • Reservations: visitspokane.com/ events/club-74-speakeasy/

The exhibit also showcases several friendship quilts made of squares that were each quilted by different people, a project done especially for the fair. There’s also an early model of Sister Paula Mary Turnbull’s Garbage Goat and other remnants that the public has never seen before.

“Our goal with the exhibit is to give a broad overview of Expo for those who may not be as familiar with it,” she says. “But also to showcase hidden threads we found while going through the material, satisfying those who live and breathe Expo ’74.”

It Happened Here: Expo ’74 Fifty Years Later • May 4-Jan. 25, 2025; Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm • $7-$12 • Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture • 2316 W. First Ave. • northwestmuseum.org • 509-456-3931

Inland Northwest Rail Museum Expo ’74

50th Anniversary Celebration

May 2-June 2, Thu-Sun 10 from am-5 pm, Inland Northwest Rail Museum, $14

Expo efforts began with the cooperation of regional railroads that agreed to remove tracks from downtown and donated the land for the fair. Visit the Inland Rail Museum to learn about Spokane’s rich history of railroads in regard to Expo ’74.

Echoes of Expo

May 4-July 7, Riverfront Park

An audio storytelling experience exploring the evolution of Spokane through the lens of Expo ’74. Each episode reveals different personal and historical stories through seven scannable QR codes found on the Wayfinding Signs in Riverfront Park.

Expo ’74 50th Anniversary Opening Celebration

Sat, May 4 from 3-9 pm, Pavilion at Riverfront, free

Beginning May 4, the city kicks off nine weeks of celebration with an opening ceremony where it all started 50 years ago. The event begins at 3 pm with cultural performances on the Pavilion stage, a reading from Spokane’s Poet Laureate Mery Smith, a reprise of 1974’s Mormon Expo Choir and recreational activities. At 6 pm, the opening ceremony begins with a procession featuring representatives from each Expo pillar, and voices from Expo’s past, present and future. Festivities continue with a performance from Kalimba Band and a drone show displaying images celebrating the legacy of Expo ’74.

Expo ’74 Historic Timeline Outdoor Exhibit

May 4-July 4, Pavilion at Riverfront

Presented by the Spokesman-Review, this open-air exhibit shows an expansive timeline of the 1974 World’s Fair from beginning, middle, to end, all underneath the original Expo ’74 U.S. Pavilion.

Searching for Trent Alley: Asian American Footprints in Downtown Spokane

May 4-June 2; Mon-Thu 9 am-7 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-4 pm, Central Library, free

The beautification efforts of Expo ’74 destroyed the last surviving remnants of Trent Alley, once a hub of Spokane’s Asian community. This exhibit showcases areas of downtown that Spokane’s Asian residents called home despite racist laws that limited the development of Asian neighborhoods. A companion exhibit, “We Are Made of Stories,” features contemporary artworks by local youth and residents.

Spokane County Library District Expo ’74 Memorabilia

July 1-31, free

Various Expo memorabilia is displayed at several SCLD branches, and online throughout the month. Learn more at scld.org.

Expo ’74 Historic Walking Tours

May 11 and 25 and June 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 10 am

Step back in time on a two-hour walking tour of Riverfront Park. Guided by local historian Chet Caskey, tours depart from the Visit Spokane Visitor Information Center.

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTO

Spokane Royalty

This article was first published in the Inlander on Dec. 30, 2010

How do you say enough in praise of King Cole? More than any other person during the past halfcentury, he made Spokane the place it is today. Our beautiful Riverfront Park, vibrant downtown, exciting sporting events and excellent restaurants — all of these attractions and more grew either directly or indirectly from King Cole’s influence.

When he came to town in 1963, this was a rather dingy city beset by urban blight. But when Cole died a few days ago, on Dec. 19, 2010, Spokane had become the sort of city that could attract one of the premier sporting events in America, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, twice in four years.

By any measure, Spokane in the 21st century has a lot of mojo for a city its size. But would the city be where it is today if a young urban planner from San Leandro, California, had not accepted a job offer from a group of local citizens in 1963? These boosters’ hearts were in the right place: They wanted to rescue Spokane Falls from decades of exploitation.

At one time, the “conquest” of the falls made sense. To the city’s 19th-century founders, the rapids were there to run sawmills and grist mills and, later on, to generate electricity. The falls area also provided a dandy spot for railroad terminals, parking lots and an industrial laundry. Cole became the catalyst in Spokane for those with a new vision for the city and its falls.

A few years ago, while working on a book about Spokane and Expo ’74, I had the privilege of interviewing Cole many times, reliving with him the story of Spokane’s transformation.

On the role of an urban planner, he told me: “Everybody wants to do something, and everybody gets excited and discouraged and upset, but in the last analysis, at the end of the day, you find out that nothing gets done unless there’s one person who lives and breathes and eats the problem day and night… so you have to hire your worrier.”

Cole was hired to be the “worrier” for Spokane. And worry he did, month after month, year after year. He gave talks to scores of civic groups, traveled to Olympia, and Washington, D.C., and eventually around the world on behalf of Spokane’s renaissance. Those who remembered Cole during the fair-building praised his persistence. “He wouldn’t let it die,” I was told. He led Spokane in building Expo ’74, which made possible the urban renewal sought by him and others. His effectiveness drew on his own passionate commitment

Remembering King Cole — whose fingerprints are all over the successes of 2024 Spokane

BY BILL YOUNGS

to beautifying Spokane. One of his favorite memories was his first view of the downtown without the wall of tracks that had separated the city from its falls. Cole remembered: “The day that I actually drove down, and they weren’t there, I felt like, if nothing happens, if the fair didn’t happen, if I died, whatever happened, what I really wanted to do the most of all was to get rid of those damn tracks!”

My interviews with Cole came about 20 years after Expo ’74. Retired by then, he was philosophical about his work in Spokane. “When I was young,” he said, “I used to love to take bows. I’d work my buns off to get some project going and, in some cases, put in a huge percentage of the energy and creativity, and then no credit — boy it hurt! But when you get older, you find out that what’s important for the future is that the job gets done.”

The urban renewal job in Spokane did get done remarkably well, first with the world’s fair, then the transformation of the fair site into one of the loveliest downtown parks in any American city, and subsequently in the ongoing development of Spokane.

In 1994, on the 20th anniversary of the fair, three mayors of Spokane spoke at an event in his honor. Former mayor David Rodgers said King Cole had been the “stem-winder,” the one essential person in Spokane’s rebirth. Rodgers’s mayoral predecessor, Neal Fosseen struck a personal note: “I don’t know of a finer, more honest, more caring person than King Cole,” he said.

And the then-current mayor, Jack Geraghty, himself an Expo employee, noted

JUST OPENED IN SPOKANE IN 1974

SPOKANE GOT SPIFFED UP FOR EXPO

Nordstrom

The Flour Mill

Clinkerdagger, Bickerstaff and Petts

The Sheraton Hotel (now the DoubleTree)

Washington Trust Bank Tower

River Park Square

Nishinomiya Tsutakawa

Japanese Garden at Manito Park

Old Port Spokane (featuring Pupo’s Restaurant)

man the city had ever known. Geraghty declared there are few charmed moments in the history of a community when the people share a common vision: The era of the world’s fair was one such time for Spokane, and King Cole provided the vision.

During one of our meetings, Cole told me he thought of his life as being like a rock thrown into water. “The water all sloshes back, runs back and forth and bubbles, and makes a bunch of waves, and they get smaller, smaller, smaller, smaller.” As he continued, Cole was whispering. “Pretty soon,” he said, “it’s perfectly calm, like nothing ever happened. That’s what life is like.”

The sentiment is profound. And yet, of course, in King Cole’s case, something — something very big — did happen.

So the next time you see children playing in Riverfront Park, or feel the spray of the falls from one of the footbridges, or ride the carousel, or watch the sun setting over the frame of the U.S. Pavilion — experience, in short, the beauty of Spokane’s downtown heart, think of our own King Cole.

King Cole died at the age of 88 on Dec. 19, 2010. Bill Youngs is the author of The Fair and the Falls, now out in a new, updated 50th anniversary edition.

It was years in the making, but King Cole (left) managed to cut the ribbon on the opening of the 1974 World’s Fair. NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE PHOTO

Bill Youngs

The Spokane Region’s Business Development Organization.

Greater Spokane Inc. creates the place where organizations come together to advocate for the region, drive strategic economic growth, and champion a talented workforce. Together we’re greater.

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