A Fair To Remember

The KC Matchgirl wants to know- where were you in 1974?

Perhaps you were one of the 5.2 million visitors that traveled to Spokane, Washington to experience the EXPO '74 World's Fair.  With the theme "Celebrating Tomorrow's Fresh New Environment", the expo was considered the first (and possibly only) world's fair with an environmental theme.  The opening ceremony on May 4th featured remarks from then-president Richard M. Nixon.  A few months later, he would resign from office, and was an ex-president when the fair closed on November 3rd.  

The fairgrounds covered an 100 acre site that included Canada Island, Havermale Island, and the south bank of the Spokane River.  Ten countries, Australia, Canada, Iran, Japan, Philippines, Mexico, Republic of China, Republic of Korea, and U.S.S.R., joined the United States, participating with their own pavilions, some of which complied with the environmental theme.

The matchbook's back cover (above)  shows an incrementally tiny map of the fairgrounds with the blue areas representing the water from the river.  The logo was designed by Lloyd Carlson and represents a Mobius strip of the environment: blue water, green earth, white air.

The front cover features an aerial view of the U.S. Pavilion, which had a white vinyl tent covering the concrete-formed building.  While not designed to be permanent, the building stands today, minus the vinyl tent.  In 1974, the pavilion featured the newly-developed IMAX theater concept.

Today, the former fairgrounds survives as Spokane's Riverfront Park, a lasting reminder of the event 40 years ago.

Note: While clearly dated 1974, the book is a front strike, last manufactured in 1973.