Seattle's Monorail Turns 40

Next month, Seattle's monorail turns 40, along with its vertical counterpart, the Space Needle. Both were created for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair to offer a sneak preview of life in "Century 21." Here's a short history of its development. "[At] middle age, the monorail is simultaneously futuristic and retro...Whether we ride it regularly or not, the monorail carries an undeniable emotional potency, not because it's part of the way the world views Seattle, but because it's part of the way we view Seattle. Clues to its lingering charm can be found in the facts and history around it."

Thanks to Linda LaSut