The remnants of the futuristic 1962 World's Fair hosted by Seattle and subtitled Century 21 Exposition are still visible over 50 years later at the Seattle Center. Thanks to regular upgrades, the complex has retained its luster and contains Seattle's highest concentration of A-list sights. It's also a superb green space close to downtown.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. International Fountain

0.03 MILES

A remnant of the 1962 World's Fair, the International Fountain was completely rebuilt in 1995. With 272 jets of water (recycled, of course) pumping in…

2. Children’s Museum

0.11 MILES

In the basement of the Seattle Center Armory near the monorail stop, the Children’s Museum is old-school entertainment and a good bet if you want to tear…

3. Chihuly Garden & Glass

0.17 MILES

Opened in 2012 and reinforcing Seattle’s position as a leading city of the arts, this exquisite exposition of the life and work of dynamic local sculptor…

4. Space Needle

0.18 MILES

This streamlined, modern-before-its-time tower built for the 1962 World’s Fair has been the city’s defining symbol for more than 50 years. The needle…

5. Museum of Pop Culture

0.2 MILES

The Museum of Pop Culture (formerly EMP, the "Experience Music Project") is an inspired marriage between super-modern architecture and legendary rock-and…

7. Pacific Science Center

0.27 MILES

This interactive museum of science and industry once housed the science pavilion of the 1962 World’s Fair. Today the center features virtual-reality…

8. Queen Anne Counterbalance

0.44 MILES

The streetcar that chugged up and down the steep grade along Queen Anne Ave started operating on overhead-wire electricity in 1900, but it still needed…