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The Seattle Center Department was created in 1965 to administer, manage and control the facilities on the site of the 1962 World's Fair. The facilities at the Seattle Center date back to 1926 with completion of the construction of the Civic Auditorium, Civic Arena, Veterans Hall, and the Civic Playfield. The property expanded to 74 acres in 1962 to accommodate the World's Fair. The Center's purpose is to be an active civic center providing facilities and programs supporting the arts, education, sports and entertainment. It is home for the Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and four resident theaters. In addition, there are facilities on the grounds that are not owned by the City: the Space Needle, Memorial Stadium, Key Arena, and the Pacific Science Center.

Includes correspondence, reports, studies, and financial materials relating to Seattle Center operations, programs, facilities, events policies, and relations with governmental agencies and Center users. Primarily the files of Jack Feary, Executive Director from 1970-1982.

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Correspondence, memoranda, reports and studies, and financial and grant information related to Seattle Center programs and activities. Major topics include capital improvements and facility renovations, Economic Development Administration grants, and Center programs such as the King Tut exhibit, Bumbershoot, and the International Bazaar. These are primarily the records of Lynn Lindsay.

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Correspondence, progress reports, architectural drawings, specifications, and financial records relating to construction, maintenance, and site development of Seattle Center facilities. The bulk of the records are for the Civic Auditorium, Coliseum(now Key Arena), and parking facilities. Most of the records date from the World's Fair and immediate post-fair development.

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Correspondence, memoranda, reports, issue papers, meeting minutes, newspaper clippings and presentational material relating to the Seattle Center Merchants Association. Contents deal with subject from concession receipts to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Includes minutes of SCMA meetings, 1971-1982.

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Daily listing of events compiled in a monthly format. Includes cover page with basic information regarding hours, admission, and telephone number for facilities. Schedules include date, time, name of event, location, sponsor, and admission charge. Arranged chronologically.

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Correspondence, cost estimates, facility information sheets, reports, brochures, and lead sheets regarding negotiations and contracts for conventions at Seattle Center between 1974-1987. Includes conventions held and those not successfully negotiated or sold.

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Correspondence, memoranda, reports, promotional materials, and financial information related to administration of the Bumbershoot Festival. Records include information about performers, applications to perform, evaluations of applicants, and contracts.

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Correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs and brochures, and calendars relating to festivals, fairs, conferences, and regular and special events held at the Seattle Center.

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Press releases concerning programs and activities at the Seattle Center.

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Newspaper clippings of events and activities at Seattle Center. Arranged chronologically.

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Brochures, flyers, and programs published for or about events at Seattle Center. Most of the material relates to Bumbershoot and the Northwest Folklife Festival.

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