World Events

What events loomed large in the Seattle of 1995, be they recent or slowly fading from the zeitgeist...

  • The current US President is Bill Clinton (with Vice President Al Gore), beating Republican nominee George HW Bush and the most popular independent candidate in history, businessman Ross Perot.
  • It has only been 6 years since the Berlin Wall fell
  • In 1991, Sherry Harris is elected to Seattle's city council; the first out lesbian to ever be elected to the council, and the first out black lesbian to be elected to any office in the United States
  • In 1991, Nirvana releases Nevermind, breaking headfirst into the mainstream, bringing Grunge up with it.
  • In 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiers, and is heavily criticized for taking the series in a darker direction, criticizing the utopian future that Star Trek has always presented.
  • The OJ Simpson trial continues, a unique terror crystallized in television. "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit," they say.
  • In 1994 Pulp Fiction is released; it's a true smash hit.
  • In 1995, The Unabomber, identity unknown, commits his most recent terror attack in a 17 year spree. It is unknown if and when he will be caught.
  • Amazon, an independent online bookstore, sells its first book in 1995
  • In 1995, Seattle holds its first ever Transgender Pride party and demonstration on Broadway, organized by a local group, the T People. Its slogan is "maximum fun and maximum freedom for people of all genders or no gender at all"
  • Starbucks is exploding in popularity. From 84 locations in 1990, to 677 in 1995; they have also just purchased the rights to the Frappuccino.
  • The Green River Killer stalks the streets of Seattle and Tacoma; he is one of the most prolific serial killers in American history with almost fifty confirmed victims and perhaps dozens more undiscovered. It is unknown if and when he will be caught. Tacoma is branded the Serial Killer Capital of the US.
  • In early 1994, Kurt Cobain's death signals the end of Nirvana. Soon after, a truly massive public vigil is held.
  • In late 1995, *Toy Story,the first film created using only CGI, is released
  • Windows 95 enters the scene, personal computers and The Internet explode into the public consciousness, but still internet use is far from ubiquitous. Who knows how this "dot com boom" will pan out. Most households do not have computers, laptops are bulky, and cellular telephones are finnicky tools for businessmen and federal agents.