Open: A World of Wonders Table Topics

Table Topic questions are meant to stimulate family and classroom discussion.
Use the questions below after reading,"Open: a world of wonders."

The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909 literally put Seattle on the map -- not only for the rest of the world but for Seattleites themselves. In 1962, Seattle drew attention again as host of The World's Fair, Century 21. If you were a resident at the time or a visitor to the fair, share your memories about the event. Speculate on how different Seattle might be today if these extravaganzas of civic pride and planning had never occurred.
Although the Exposition was visited by people from all over the world, local excitement and attendance was necessary for success. 'Smith Family Day' brought out the crowds, with awards for exceptional Smiths of every kind. Do you think people would respond to this kind of promotion today? In 1962, there were new ways to promote the fair, including using the location for the Elvis Presley movie, "Take Me to the World's Fair."
Think of promotions used to hype recent events, and create some original ones that would really 'rock the house' today.
Looking back, the Exposition was a great deal for the city, but critics of the day argued that it was too costly. Look through the paper for discussions of projected civic projects with big price tags. How does a community weigh issues of huge expenditures and projected long-term value? When costs ran over on the Exposition, the newspapers needled the wealthy until they came up with the rest. How do we handle cost overruns on civic projects today? Are individual donors still depended on for contributions?
During the Exposition, the Times gave the events daily front page coverage. This helped to involve local citizens, whetting their appetites for the wonders of the fair. Think of ways the newspaper keeps people informed of special events today, from the Final Four playoffs to The Bite of Seattle. Has coverage of an event ever inspired you to attend? Conversely, have you ever wanted to relive an exciting event by reading about it the next day? What function does the media serve in bonding a community to its common celebrations?
The Exposition created permanent value for the city by its expansion of the University of Washington campus. Geyser Basin, once the center of the fair, has evolved into 'Frosh Pond.' Name as many permanent benefits as you can that Seattle enjoys as a legacy of the 1962 World's Fair, from the cultural to the frivolous. The Space Needle was a symbol of that fair. What traditions have become associated with it over the years?
Seattle invested in itself and reached out to the world in 1909 and 1962. If the city continued in this pattern, it would be ready to host another fair sometime around 2025. What do you think would be a good focus or theme for our next event? And what would you like left behind to benefit our region when the event is over?