Gabriel Solheim of Bellevue was the manager of Stordahl & Son’s Painting Contractors, the company responsible for painting most of the structures at the Seattle World’s Fair. When the time came to paint the top of the Space Needle and the Science Center arches, he could not find anyone willing to take on the job, so he and his friend, Al Dell of Kirkland, did it themselves.

Solheim is just visible on the right side of the Needle roof, a black spot against an orange background. He accessed the roof via a ladder from the balcony below and secured himself to the building with a rope while he worked.

This photograph was taken from helicopter in the spring of 1962, just weeks before the Fair opened. Solheim’s daughter, who loaned the photo for this article, believes that he never knew that it existed.

Heritage Corner is a feature in the Bellevue Reporter. Material is provided by the Eastside Heritage Center. For more information call 425-450-1049.