U.S. SCIENCE EXHIBIT Seattle World's Fair Final Report \ ^, ('))'< • S '' '• .•.••'-: '•< • • ; U.'C>. &C'.Cr r, J ' : • • • . - . : UNITED STATES SCIENCE EXHIBIT SEATTLE WORLD'S FAIR FINAL REPORT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LUTHER H. HODGES, Secretary DR. ATHELSTAN SPILHAUS, Commissioner CRAIG COLGATE, JR., Deputy Commissioner Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 63-60022 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. - Price 55 cents llATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SEATTLE WORLD'S FAIR, CENTURY 21 EXPOSITION, APRIL 21-OCTOBER 21, 1962 March 15, 1963 The Honorable Luther H. Hodges Secretary of Commerce Washington 25, D. G. Dear Mr. Secretary: It is a pleasure to transmit to you the final report on the United States Science Exhibit at the Seattle World's Fair. The almost universally favorable reception which the beautiful building, the science exhibits, demonstrations and other activities received during the Fair is a credit to all of those who took part. I hope that you and others in your Department will share this satisfaction. The Exhibit achieved, I believe, a high standard of excellence. I hope it will point the way for similar endeavors in the future. Another source of gratification is that the permanent Science Pavilion and its contents will continue to bring scientific enlightenment to people of all ages and walks of life. The Pacific Science Center Founda­ tion has taken on the important task of operating the Exhibit facilities as a permanent Science Center. They are working hard to enlist community, regional, and national support to keep the Science Center going and up to date. Finally I want to say to you how much I appreciated the long and hard work of the dedicated people of my staff, the assistance that you and those in your Department afforded us, and help from hundreds of people from all over the United States. I am grateful to have had the opportunity of working with you on this challenging and unique undertaking. Sincerely yours Athelstan Spilhaus Commissioner fso'?g^3 200 - SECOND AVENUE NORTH - SEATTLE 9, WASHINGTON - CENTURY 5-3160 1. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY Federal participation in the Seattle World's Concurrently a request to cover the total costs Fair was based on Public Law 85-880 (see page of Federal participation was under considera­ 84) approved September 2, 1958, which called tion by Congress. A justification in considerable on the President to "cooperate with the Washing­ detail was presented to the Senate Committeee on ton State World Fair Commission with respect Appropriations in August 1959 (Mutual Security to, and determine the extent to which the United Appropriations for 1960, Hearings before the States shall be a participant and an exhibitor at, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, 86th the World Science-Pan Pacific Exposition . Congress, First Session, on H.K. 8385, page S53 which is being held at Seattle, Washington, et seq.). No House hearings as such were held in 1961." The appointment of a Commissioner on this appropriation. was authorized. The President was instructed Although there w^as considerable opposition in to report to the next session of Congress how the both houses of Congress to establishing a prec­ United States could best be represented at the Fair edent for Federal participation in domestic fairs, and the amount of money that would be neces­ in September 1959, during its first session, the sary. An interim appropriation of $125,000 was 86th Congress, by an amendment to the Mutual authorized. Security Bill, appropriated $9,000,000 for a U.S. On November 13, 1958, President Eisenhower Government Exhibit in Seattle. Funds were requested the Secretary of Commerce to study the made available in mid-October. matter, and furnish him recommendations upon Shortly thereafter Philip M. Evans was desig­ which a report to the 86th Congress could be nated Commissioner and began formation of a based. permanent staff. The 85th Congress adjourned without appro­ In the same month, Fair authorities announced priating the $125,000 called for in P.L. 85-880. In that the Fair would open in 1962, for 1 year only, order to be able to report to the 86th Congress, and not in 1961 for 2 years as originally planned. and enable the necessary planning to get under­ This was done in order to conform to the regula­ way, the President allotted the Department, of tions of the Bureau International des Exposi­ Commerce $60,000 from his Emergency Fund on tions governing participation in international December 20, 1958. A small planning staff un­ fairs by its members, and to secure the Bureau's der the direction of Francis D. Miller as Deputy official approval of the Seattle Fair as one in Commissioner was set up in the Department of which members of the Bureau could participate. Commerce on December 29th. At the time, this postponement of the Fair's open­ As a result of the work of this staff, and the ing, and halving its period, seemed to some a con­ assistance of the National Science Planning fession of failure and the beginning of its col­ Board, the President was able to transmit a re­ lapse. In retrospect, however, it proved probably port to Congress on May 21, 1959, as called for the wisest decision made by the Fair manage­ by P.L. 85-880. ment. Not only was significant foreign partici­ Further study by the planning staff also showed pation thus obtained, but the planners of the that P.L. 85-880 was unduly restrictive. Amend­ United States Science Exhibit were given an ad­ atory legislation would be needed if the Commis­ ditional year. Events were to show that they sioner were to have the necessary authority to needed every day of it. accomplish his tasks and if arrangements for Fed­ On January 20, 1961, Mr. Evans resigned as eral participation in the Fair were to have the Commissioner. Craig Colgate Jr., was appointed necessary flexibility. On September 9, 1959, ac­ Deputy and Acting Commissioner until the ap­ cordingly, Congress amended P.L. 85-880 by P.L. pointment of Dr. Athelstan Spilhaus as Commis­ 86-250 (see page 86). This not only broad­ sioner on April 18. ened the powers of the Commissioner, but sub­ A request for an additional appropriation was stituted a new financial ceiling of $12,500,000 for made in the spring of 1961, and on September 30, the previous ceiling of $125,000, which had been 1961, a supplemental $900,000 was granted (P.L. meant only to cover the initial planning. 87-332, 87th Congress, H.E. 9169). This money largely made possible the highly successful Junior ment of funds (31 U.S.C. 529), the prohibition Laboratory of Science described in Section 4. on contracts extending more than 1 year, and the Critical to the successful accomplishment of the standard regulations on the employment of ex­ tasks called for in P.L. 85-880 were certain ex­ perts and consultants. emptions from legal prohibitions and limitations Under section 302(c) of the Federal Property designed to control routine, continuing Govern­ and Administrative Services Act he was also ment operations. given authority to negotiate certain contracts P.L. 85-880 provided that appropriate funds without advertising, as follows: public exigency; were available until expended. Thus, unspent contracts for professional services; contracts with money did not have to be returned to the Treas­ universities and educational institutions; con­ ury at the end of each fiscal year. In addition, tracts where it was impractical to secure the Act gave the Commissioner authority to ac­ competition. cept loans and gifts, and to hire without reference The above exemptions afforded needed latitude. to Civil Service rules. The Commissioner also Without them there is little question it would have was immune to the prohibition on advance pay­ been impossible to complete the job on time. Contents Page 1. Legislative History 1 2. Development of the Theme 3 3. Storyline of Exhibits 7 4. The Junior Laboratory of Science 35 5. The Science Theater 43 6. Books at the Science Exhibit 45 7. Foreign Participation 46 8. Science Demonstrators 47 9. Public Reaction 49 10. Architectural Critique of the Pavilion 51 11. Residual Use of the Pavilion 55 12. Lessons for the Future 59 Appendixes: National Science Planning Board 62 Science Advisory Committee 63 Consultants and Advisers 64 Private Contributors 69 Exhibit Designers and Fabricators 72 Films in Science Theater 74 Science Books at the Exhibit 77 Attendance Pattern 80 Financial Statement 81 Organizational Chart 82 Index of USSE Files in National Archives 83 Public Law 85-880 84 Public Law 86-250 86 2. DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEME The United States Science Exhibit resulted It appeared as though the scientists and the pro­ from the union of two groups of people with sep­ moters of the Century 21 Exposition might have arate but complementary goals. On the one hand a common aim. the Seattle promoters of the Century 21 Exposi­ Despite reservations about Seattle's remoteness, tion hoped to stage an Exposition based on the Reynolds and Mitchell referred their visitors to theme of the 21st Century—when science would the American Association for the Advancement presumably play a major role. On the other hand of Science as an entree into the scientific com­ a small group of scientists was disturbed at the munity. An appointment was arranged for them lack of U.S. popular understanding of science, with Dael Wolfle, Executive Officer. and was anxious to do something to strengthen Wolfle thought the initial plans looked good, public support of scientific research.