It was originally planned for 1907, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush, but the organizers found out about the Jamestown Exposition being held that year, and rescheduled.
The fair was set up on the grounds of the University of Washington, which mostly undeveloped at the time. The layout of the Exposition and its buildings were partly funded by the state legislature, so that they could be used later by the University. Two of the buildings are still in use as of 2003, although most were poorly built and have long since been replaced.
80,000 people attended the June 1 opening, and when it closed October 16, over 700,000 had visited.
The United States Post Office Department issued a 2-cent postage stamp for the Exposition, depicting a profile of William Seward and inscribed "ALASKA-YUKON-PACIFIC-1909". At the request of several private vending machine companies, the stamp was also issued imperforate; these were sold at the show by the companies as a promotion. In addition, two machine cancellations were devised: one a flag cancellation including the words "ALASKA-YUKON-PACIFIC / EXPOSITION", and the other, a straight-line design reading "WORLD'S FAIR / SEATTLE / 1909".
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