World's Fair

Olga Carlson and the AYP

The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (A-Y-P) is considered to be Washington’s first “world’s fair.”  The A-Y-P was mandated by the Washington State Legislature to provide a venue to display the advantages of living in this region.  It brought prosperity and riches to the Pacific Northwest and Washington state had much to be proud.

Nancy Larson and Olga Carlson, undated. (83.99.19)

The A-Y-P was held on the University of Washington campus between June 1 and October 16, 1909,  and hosted nearly 3 million visitors and tourists. Exhibits were presented by foreign nations, western states, and numerous business, scientific, artistic, and social organizations.

Every day at the fair was special!  Olga Carlson came with her family from what is now Happy Valley, Redmond, for Swedish Day.  She kept a diary and the following is her entry for the day:            

“When I was going to Seattle to see the fair, Nancy, Elsie, Helen, and I wanted Grandpa to come with us.  We begged him to go but he just teased us.  We knew he would buy us something nice, at least he went with us to Seattle.

He took us to see a lion which was very big.  He took us for a ride in a boat on the Yukon River which I liked very much.  We went round three times.  Then he took us for a ride on a train, which frighted me very much.  It went up and down all the time and sometimes it would go through a tunnel.  He took us for a ride on a big wheel called a ferris wheel.  It went round three times and when it came to the top it would stop.  I enjoyed riding on it very much.

He brought us ice cream cones and many nice things which we liked very much.  We went to see the University Grounds two times.  First in the day time and then at night.  We heard many people sing.  We saw the parade.  One of my sister’s friends in Seattle was in the parade.  The day we went to Seattle was called the Swedish Day.”
— Olga Carlson's Diary

Chinese Village during a parade, with Ferris wheel to the right, Pay Streak, Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle, Washington, 1909. University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, AYP600

**Swedish Day was celebrated July 31st and had up to 40,352 admissions.  Festivities began with a parade in Swedish national costumes.


 

Resources: 

Eastside Heritage Center, Lester Olson Collection 

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Exposition : A Timeline History:  Alan Stein, Paula Becker and the HistoryLink Staff, 2009

University of Washington Special Collections

4Culture AYP Curriculum Project 2009

Historical Recipes and Cookbooks

The holiday season is characterized by large meals, lavish spreads of specialty dishes, and family traditions. Below you’ll find a selection of recipes from the history of the Eastside. Try one and share your dish with us! Email a picture of your creation to our Collections Manager to be featured on our social media pages.

1950 Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes from Famous Eating Places

The cookbook lists restaurants throughout the United States. Each page describes one restaurant, and includes an illustration and a recipe from that establishment.

Pound steak with tenderizer. Pour flour into shallow pan; add salt and pepper. Press steak into flour mixture and turn several times. Melt shortening in heated Dutch oven (425°). Brown steak well on both sides, then add chopped onion. Mix mushroom soup with equal parts of water, stir well, and pour over steak. Turn fire down to 350° and let simmer for 2 hours. Add more water if necessary. Serves 4 to 6.

Dutch Oven Steak

2 pounds round steak, 1 inch thick

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup shortening

1 large onion, chopped fine

1 can mushroom soup

 

1962 Favorite Recipes from Faraway Places

Century 21/Seattle World's Fair Souvenir Cookbook. The book was printed by Frederick and Nelson and Revere Ware.

Pour mixture over 4 pork chops - 1” thick.

Let stand for 24 hours.

Remove chops and brown in Revere 10” Skillet.

Pour Vinegar mixture over chops and cook until chops are tender.

Garnish with 4 slices pineapple and 4 maraschino cherries.

Pork Chops Tahitian

Mix Together:

3/4 cup vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons dry mustard

4 cloves garlic

 

1916 Jell-O, America's Most Famous Dessert

In addition to the recipes, this book tells the story of a new bride and how she uses Jell-O to cook dinner for her new husband, entertain, and cook for her children.

Thrifty Salad

Dissolve one package of Lemon Jell-O in one pint of boiling water. When cold, put a shallow layer in bottom of mould, and when partly set, place in sliced tomatoes. Fill mould with alternate layers of salmon, cold cooked peas and cold Jell-O. Serve on bed of lettuce leaves, garnished with tomatoes, adding French dressing or mayonnaise.