'Poetry in Motion':
Remembering the Issaquah Skyport
Jumpers Exiting Seattle Sky Sports' Lockheed Lodestar, c. 1973.
IHM 2001.017.017.
"Fly Sky Sports" Advertising Brochure, c. 1965. IHM: 2001.017.009.
Issaquah's Skyport was a recreational airfield that operated from 1961–1987. The planes and parachutes consistently flying overhead quickly became the symbol of Issaquah, and its grass field the home to countless spectators and pilots bringing their dreams to life. Beloved as it was, the airfield was eventually forced to shut down operations to make way for today’s Pickering Place shopping center (the landing strip would slice through Lowe's Home Improvement parking lot today).
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This exhibit details the Skyport’s history from the first time the land was used as an airfield to the day it closed. We explore both sides of the fight to save or pave it; the depth of meaning it had for Issaquah’s visual identity; what happened when it was lost; and where the city’s inhabitants now identify as distinctly "Issaquah." Look forward to:
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learning how the Skyport was connected to the unsolved mystery of D.B. Cooper;
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a video made using the voices of community members who experienced the airfield;
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a catchy song that was made in an effort to save the Skyport;
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and a video of Skyport activity from 1961-65.
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The web exhibit works well on mobile devices, but we recommend using a desktop if possible to get the best possible viewing experience.
