TIME & AGAIN

The King County Fair, which continues this summer as the oldest fair in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River, started in 1863—114 years before then-County Executive John Spellman and some 4H participants posed for this photo at the 1977 fair. The fact Abraham Lincoln was president in the event’s first years is just one of its historic ties. On the grounds of Enumclaw Expo Center, where the fair is now staged annually, the buildings came from the Seattle World’s Fair (where Elvis Presley walked through them). In 1972, the County Council discussed but decided against moving the fair to the Kingdome. But parts of the legendary stadium—seats and a ticket booth–wound up at the current fairgrounds after the stadium was demolished. This year’s fair will have a four-day run July 11-14.

Time & Again is a Senior Scene feature that highlights local history.