Seattle's World's Fair Exceeds All Expectations
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition closed with record attendance, a profit for stockholders, and a lasting gift to the University of Washington campus.
When the gates of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition were closed at the end of the exhibition's life, the total attendance for the 138 days amounted to 3,740,551, which was one-fourth more than the original estimate. The income from admissions was $1,096,475. The total receipts, consisting of admissions, concessions, rentals and various other sources to date, aggregate $1,519,438.14. After all debts have been paid at least $100,000 will remain to be paid as dividends to the stockholders. As a result of the exposition the University of Washington, on whose grounds the fair was held, is the gainer by $1,658,088. Of this amount $600,000 represents permanent buildings; $207,935 semi-permanent buildings donated by the state. The remainder represents improvements to the grounds, permanent roadways and various other structures that will be utilized by different departments of the university.
“As a result of the exposition the University of Washington, on whose grounds the fair was held, is the gainer by $1,658,088.”
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition turned a swampy corner of Seattle into a world's fair and left the University of Washington with permanent buildings and a landscaped campus. The fair's financial success—paid for largely by admissions and concessions—was a rare case of a world's fair actually turning a profit, a feat later fairs rarely matched.
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