Knute Berger Shares New Findings About the Space Needle at MOHAI’s Denny Lecture -November 1
photo courtesy of Knute Berger
From a MOHAI news release:
SEATTLE – The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and the Space Needle are excited to present Knute “Skip” Berger as the 2nd annual Denny Lecturer on November 1, 2012 at the Space Needle. Honoring the legacy of Seattle’s historic Denny family, MOHAI’s Denny Lecture aims to recognize substantial contributions to regional scholarship. Berger was chosen as this year’s lecturer for new findings about the origins of the Space Needle, uncovered during research for his newest book, Space Needle: The Spirit of Seattle. “What’s exciting about the Denny Lecture is that it gives us an opportunity to put the spotlight on local historians” said Leonard Garfield, Executive Director of MOHAI, “As Seattle winds down its celebration of the 50th anniversary of Century 21, we could not be more happy to present Knute’s work on the history of Seattle’s most iconic structure: the Space Needle.”
Seattle’s self-professed “Mossback”, Berger has long been considered a leading authority on Puget Sound culture and heritage. He regularly contributes articles to local magazines, newspapers, and blogs and released the book Pugetopolis in 2009. Last year Berger was selected as “Writer-In-Residence” for the Space Needle as part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1962 Century 21 World’s Fair. “Being appointed Writer-In-Residence at the Needle was a literal highlight of my book project. They gave me a desk on the Observation Deck and it was an amazing perch from which to observe and ponder the city,” Berger explained. “Having it topped off by being appointed the Denny Lecturer is just an incredible honor. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with people who have a passion for Seattle heritage.” Along with his new findings, Berger will share anecdotes about the individuals he encountered and experiences he had while working from the Needle.
Berger will present his work on November 1, 2012 at 7:00pm in the SkyLine Level at the Space Needle. The lecture is open to the public and tickets can be purchased on MOHAI’s website, mohai.org or at the door. The lecture is free for MOHAI members and $10 for the general public.
About the Denny Lecture: Honoring the many contributions of Seattle’s founding Denny family, MOHAI’s annual Denny Lecture presents the very best in regional historical scholarship. Denny Lecturers are selected each year for their contributions to the field, their ability to enrich our understanding of Puget Sound and its people, and their eagerness to share their work with a popular audience.