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On April 19, 1962, two days before the Seattle Century 21 World's Fair opens, the wife of Sixten Holmquist christens the Monorail. Holmquist is president of Wegematic Corporation, a subsidiary of Alwac International, which holds the U.S. patent to Alweg monorails.

All subsidiaries of Alwac/Alweg, including Monorail, Inc. and Wegematic Corp., were bankrolled by Axel Wenner-Gren, the Swedish financier.

Sources:

Don Duncan, Meet Me at the Center: The Story of Seattle Center From the Beginnings to 1962 Seattle World’s Fair to the 21st Century (Seattle: Seattle Center Foundation, 1992), 43, 50; Reinhard Krischer, "Alweg Monorail Rapid Transit History," Alweg Archives Website accessed in February 2004(http://www.alweg.com/pages/424731/index.htm); Report, Alwac International, Inc. to John Rupp, Chairman Seattle Transit Commission, February 2, 1960, File 1-2-72: "Alweg," Box 5, Records of Alfred R. Rochester, Executive Director, Century 21 Exposition, World’s Fair Commission, Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives, Bellevue, Washington.
Note: This essay was corrected on April 30, 2004.

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