Seattle is protecting its status as an incubator of companies which transform the world, with a Jeff Bezos-sponsored museum extension at the Museum of History & Industry.

Speaking in the upcoming issue of Attractions Management, MOHAI’s executive director, Leonard Garfield, explains the thinking and objectives behind the $10m Bezos Center for Innovation.

“Seattle has spawned many of the world’s most successful companies, including Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft, Expedia and Boeing,” he says. “The Bezos Center is both a celebration of this successful track record, and also prepares the ground for more homegrown talent, inspiring high school kids to continue their city’s legacy.”

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos put up most of the cash for the new wing and was involved in the content, including providing one of the oral histories showcased, where top flight chief executives share their thoughts on success.

His motivation for getting involved was loyalty towards his city, which has been the birthplace of a huge number of influential companies. He was keen to both share the history, and also inspire future generations to keep Seattle a fertile breeding ground for creative minds.

“There’s something about Seattle that has made it an unusually good place to innovate, and the MOHAI Center for Innovation will help Seattle continue on that course by showcasing and teaching how industrial innovation can play an important role in human advancement,” he says.

Bezos points out that the world has a lot to thank Seattle for: new treatments from the Cancer Research Center, affordable flights from Boeing and a computer on every desk from Microsoft, to name but a few.