St. Louis world's fair - Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room (Serial and Government Publications Division, Library of Congress) Jump to: Sample Articles Important Dates: 1901. Planning and construction for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition begins. President McKinley issues a proclamation inviting the international community to participate. 1902. Although Exposition organizers had planned for a 1903 opening, it is delayed to 1904 to complete the preparations for what would be the largest ever World’s Fair. April 30, 1903. The Dedication ceremonies commemorating the centennial of the signing of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty are held, though the Exposition will not officially open for another year. April 30, 1904. The official opening day of the Fair – both President Roosevelt and Secretary of War William Howard Taft participated in the opening ceremonies. December 1, 1904. Closing night of the Fair. Suggested Search Strategies: [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.] St.

Louis World’s Fair, 1904 World’s Fair, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the “Pike” To narrow your results, search between 1899 and 1905. To find articles relating to specific events related to the Fair include additional terms in search. Ex. When searching for articles about the opening of the Fair, including opening or opening day in search terms. Sample Articles from Chronicling America: " National Comission Goes Over Fair Site ," St. Louis Republic (St. Louis, MO), June 27, 1901, Page 1, Image 1, col. 3. " President McKinley Issues World's Fair Proclamation ," St. Louis Republic (St. Louis, MO), August 22, 1901, Page 1, Image 1, col. 4. " Postponed at St. Louis ," Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, MN), January 17, 1902, Page 1, Image 1, col. 4.

World Fairs, Columbian, Columbus, Lewis and Clark, Louisiana Purchase, AYPE, souvenir spoons Souvenir Spoons from THE WORLD FAIRS World fairs were designed to show the best in human achievements. Major exhibitions of arts, business, agriculture, humanities, cultures and customs were highlighted in large cities. The study of these intriguing events is a topic onto itself. Many beautiful souvenir spoons were designed for some of these magnificent events. Chicago 1893 Columbian World Fair The Chicago world fair was precedent setting. It established a pattern for all future world fairs and contributed immeasurably to the future direction of this country and the world. You will be surprised by the number of things which we take for granted today that were first highlighted by this world fair. The 1893 Columbian World Fair in Chicago was one of the major impetuses for the collecting of silver souvenir spoons. In 1892, the fantastic "great white city" opened amid economic devastation in an economy that was described as a "monetary panic". Yet it is estimated that more varieties of souvenir spoons were created for this fair than for any other single event in history.

Because so many spoons were created for this world fair, I have created a separate series of exhibition spoons. Other Expositions A number of other major expositions and more localized fairs were held and souvenir spoons were created for each of these events. The pieces shown here are not meant to be exhaustive, but merely to show some of the tremendous variety of spoons that are available to spoon and exposition collectors. The California Mid-Winter Fair was held in San Francisco in 1894 Hand made spoon from San Francisco, 1894 with a bear embossed bowl Cotton States International Exposition Atlanta, Georgia 1895-96 The Cotton States Exposition was a little expo held in Atlanta in 1896. There are very few spoons from this expo. This "king cotton" enamel spoon is the nicest one from this expo. It is available in tea and demi size right: silver plated symbols from the fair, bowl pictures the cotton palace One of the most remembered events from this world fair was a speech made by Booker T. Washington..

This brilliant speech may be read here Silver plated advertising spoon from the small Trans Mississippi expo held in Omaha in 1898 This spoon is advertising Fleischmann & Co. yeast 1900-01 Paris Exposition A Scottish Thistle adorns this Paris expo spoon The Pont Alexandrie was a marvelously decorated bridge built for this exposition Pan-American Exposition (Buffalo, New York 1901) buffalo symbol from the fair (rebus) Click to see more Pan American World Fair spoons 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World Fair) These are the "Official Louisiana Purchase Expo Spoons". So many varieties of spoons were made for the Columbus expo that the organizers tried to monopolize the production of this souvenir. As we shall see--they were not successful. Note that these spoons have almost the same handle design (1803-buffalo hunter-covered wagon and campfires, train- 1903). Portland "Lewis and Clark" Expo 1904 -1905 The "Lewis and Clark" expo in Portland, Oregon in 1904/ 1905 was to celebrate the achievement of these western pioneers.

A number of different spoons were created for this fair. Symbol of the fair (plated) The one pictured here is made out of copper (even though it is clearly marked sterling). The Front shows portraits of Lewis and Clark, a monument to them and the Oltnomah Falls and the back has various symbols for the home city of Portland. The bowl shows a statue of Sacajawea, the Indian maiden who guided the exploration party including the baby which she bore on the trip. Note: the new U.S. Sacajawea (Sacagawea) golden dollar is based upon this Indian guide. This silver plated spoon purports to show the Grant log cabin which was owned by G.F.Blanne.

The handle shows Teddy Roosevelt with his gun On the left the spoon is marked "world fair 1904" A nicely engraved bowl showing their indian guide Sacajawea with her arms around Lewis and Clark watching the setting sun over the Pacific Ocean "Portland 1905' Jamestown Exposition(1907) The Jamestown Exposition of 1907 was to celebrate the 300th year of the founding of the Jamestown Colony in Virgina Alaska Yukon Purchase Expo (AYPE 1909) The Alaska Yukon Purchase Exhibition of Seattle, Washington 1909 produced a number of very interesting spoons. A separate exhibit has been set up to show these and other gold spoons from Alaska. Click here to see the AYPE exhibit spoons. Hudson - Fulton Celebration (1909) Souvenir Spoon made by Tiffany & Co. to celebrate the 1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration The stem pictures Hudson's ship the "Half Moon" ("de Haelve Maene") which first explored the Hudson river in 1609.

Below that is pictured the New York seal and below that is a laurel wreath The bowl pictures Fulton's steamboat the "Clermont" 1807 Some of these spoons may be later restrikes. Pan Pacific International Exposition (PPIE 1915) Panama Canal Exposition The 1915 San Francisco-Panama Canal exposition was a major exposition to honor the opening of the Panama Canal and celebrate the "riches" of California. A variety of spoons are available from this magnificent exposition and the similar (but smaller) San Diego exposition. The spoons for this fair have been expanded and combined with Panama Canal spoons and placed in a separate exhibit. Click the links to see these beautiful and interesting spoons. Click to visit the Pan Pacific International Exposition exhibit San Diego PHILADELPHIA SESQUI-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION (1926) A world fair held in Philadelphia to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence This was a much smaller event and this is the only spoon from this event that I know about Silver plated spoon by Roger Bros.

Chicago "a Century of Progress" 1933-1934 In the depths of the Great Depression, Chicago tried to recreate the great success of the earlier Columbian World Fair of 1893. They were not entirely successful, but were able to stage a presentable world fair. Click to see some fabulous spoons from this exhibition Seattle World Fair The spoons shown here are the Official spoons for the Seattle World's Fair and were patented in 1961. These are the only two official sterling spoons that I know about from this fair. The space needle (left) is a well known landmark. The second spoon (front and back) shows various images from the 1962 world fair The vermeil bowl is engraved "World Fair Seattle 1962" The totem pole handle is from an old die ca. 1900. The quality of the enamel work is not nearly as good as it should be. Montreal, Canada -- 1967 This silver plated demi is the only souvenir spoon from this fair of which I am aware. Some cities built exposition buildings to attract smaller trade shows.

Sometimes these buildings were of significant interest to justify the production of a few spoons. These are usually hand engraved in small lots. Kansas city spoons are readily available. Minneapolis spoons are rarer Centennial Exhibition In 1876 the Centennial Exhibition was held in Philadelphia. This was fifteen years before the start of the Souvenir Spoon Movement in the United States and at the very inception of the Art Nuevo period. I have a very unusual spoon which I believe dates to this exhibition. If you would like to see it click Queen Victoria. Many other world fair spoons and other types of souvenirs are avidly collected. A WORLD'S FAIR IN 1903. - Article - NYTimes.com A WORLD'S FAIR IN 1903. Permissions [ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ] ST. LOUIS, Mo., Jan. 10. -- The convention convened here by the Governor of Missouri by unanimous vote selected St. Louis as the place for holding the World's Fair in the Winter of 1903 to celebrate the Louisiana purchase. Fourteen States and Territories of the seventeen in the Louisiana purchase district were represented. January 11, 1899 View the full article in TimesMachine.

Subscribers* enjoy full access to TimesMachine—view 129 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared. Or, download a high-resolution PDF of the individual article. * Does not include NYT Now or Premium Crosswords subscribers. 1904 St. Louis World's Fair - A Fair to Remember 1904 St. Louis World's Fair "A Fair To Remember" An Introduction The Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 was by all accounts the most beautiful, educational and exciting of all the international exhibitions of global culture ever presented. The world was at peace and technology promised a future beyond all imagination. 62 nations and 43 states brought their treasures and their civilizations to St. Louis to display and demonstrate humanity's advancements since the Louisiana Purchase. Built on over 1,200 acres in the heart of St. Louis, it was the largest fair ever held. With its immense architecture, broad boulevards, curved bridges and landscaped water vistas, the beauty of the Fair was unmatched! For 7 months in the summer of 1904, the city of St.

Louis became the “World’s University.” The Fair offered its students an opportunity to learn first hand about the wonders and the cultures far removed from their everyday lives. Cities at the turn of the century were expanding quickly, but not always in a structured, logical manner. The Fair was designed to demonstrate a model urban community of the future. The layout of this miniature city was carefully planned into different zones, each with a specific purpose. The Fair had limitless educational opportunities, little to no crime and an almost constant state of celebration. It truly became an ideal, utopian society. The Fair planners celebrated a glorious past, acknowledged the accomplishments of the present and offered a glimpse into the possibilities of the future. The people of St. Louis put everything they had into celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, and the result was the most spectacular World’s Fair ever created. The Planning A great deal of the Fair’s success is due to the extensive planning. The Exposition Company was created to coordinate the preparations, but the entire population of St. Louis worked toward the great event. Arrangements had to be made for such things as transportation, sanitation, fire protection and security. They needed hotels, restaurants, services and supplies for millions of additional people.

The incredible physical effort of erecting the buildings, carving the lagoons and building the roads, sewers and power plants is to be marveled at in itself. Originally the Fair was to open April 30, 1903, the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase treaty. However, as the scope of the Exposition broadened, it became clear that everything could not be completed by the scheduled date. Since the goal of the Exposition Company was to include everything possible, the officials decided to put off the opening date for one year. After three years of concentrated work, everything was finally finished. The Palaces The Exposition Company divided and displayed humanity's advancements into 12 major classifications, such as Transportation, Art, Anthropology and Education. These main exhibits were housed in the Palaces. These ornately detailed show-places, with their massive columns and spired towers, were immense and beautiful almost beyond description. Electric light, a recent innovation for the turn of the century, was used lavishly both for illumination and decoration. The Palaces comprised 5 million square feet of exhibit space. The Agriculture Palace alone covered 23 acres.

Just one of the medium sized Palaces required 95,000 sq. ft. of glass, 600 windows and doors, 450 tons of steel, and 7,000,000 feet of lumber. Since they were of temporary construction, their outsides were covered with 800,000 sq. ft. of staff, a mixture of plaster of paris and hemp fiber. Education was the keynote of the Fair. The Exposition Company incorporated education into all aspects of the exhibits, and their presentation was both innovative and organized. Within the separate Palaces, the exhibits were arranged to show the process of how things were made, not just the items themselves. For example, one could watch the rope maker, the blacksmith or the farmer actually at work, and then see the results of his/her labor. There was even a model school, where the latest educational methods were demonstrated. The Variety It was impossible to see all of the fair in less than a week, or study it with any care in less than a month. There were over 1500 distinct buildings on 75 miles of walks and roadways. Each country, state and territory had its own building.

There was a U. S. Government building, a bank, a hospital and a press building. There were 7 churches, each one a replica of a famous place of worship. The official hotel on the Fairgrounds was the Inside Inn, which had 2257 rooms. Over 36,000 people could be served simultaneously throughout the Fair, and one large restaurant had seating for 4,800. The 1904 Summer Olympic Games were held during the Fair. Francis Field, which had the first concrete stadium in the United States, was the most modern in the world at that period. With so many other events going on, the Olympics took on a minor role. The medals earned during the Fair have since become very desirable, and the Games themselves very interesting to research. The Fair traveler may have chosen to visit the walled city of Jerusalem, a Japanese tea garden or a Chinese temple. There was a gigantic floral clock with hands 100 feet across, a sunken garden and the actual log cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born. One could travel over the lovely lagoons in a modern motor launch or in gaily decorated gondola.

One could hire an automobile, a wheel chair, an Irish jaunting car or ride a camel, a turtle or an elephant. There were almost daily celebrations, parades and special events. A designated committee made sure something was always going on. Some of the activities included president's week, flower show week and college week. There were weeks honoring specific states, and 32 different cities celebrated special days. There was even an official anti-cigarette day! St. Louis, well known as a musical city, paid special attention to planning music of every variety. There were daily organ concerts in Festival Hall. The official Exposition Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of internationally famous conductors, performed popular concerts in the Tyrolean Alps. A choral group of nearly 3000 sang for special occasions. Every section of the fairgrounds featured outdoor concerts with music from a variety of internationally famous bands. John Philip Sousas’s celebrated group was a Fair favorite. The Wonders on The Pike The Pike was a mile long midway featuring rides, amusements and fantastic attractions. It was the headquarters for fun and adventure. The Pike was primarily a source of pleasure, but many of its features educated as they entertained.

The old expression, “coming down the Pike” originated at the Fair, as you never knew what you would see next. Visitors could scale the Tyrolean Alps, visit Blarney Castle or take in a Parisian fashion show. One could go deep sea diving, ride a burro to cliff dwellings or experience the “Hereafter.” An afternoon's activities might have included stalking wild animals, exploring the North Pole or walking the streets of ancient Rome. In the Naval Battle of Santiago, model ships staged war on a miniature lake. The food choices were just as diverse, and the Pike is the birthplace of the ice cream cone. By day the Pike was an excited crowd of children, souvenir hunters, acrobats and clowns. By night it became a milling mob of pleasure seekers. 50 different shows could be seen in the Pike’s theaters. Here one could see the forms of entertainment popular in different parts of the world, and the people came out to play. Belly dancing fast became a favorite of many fairgoers. The Memories When the Exposition Company made the initial contracts to plan the Fair, they promised to restore the grounds to a public park.

When it was all over, the tremendous buildings were salvaged and the wonderful fountains and cascades were demolished. Archaeologists are currently studying the immense landfills where the debris from the Fair was buried. The times had been right for the coming together of people, but much of the credit should go to the people of St. Louis. They had indeed built a fair so comprehensive, so perfectly planned, that had some disaster wiped out every culture from the face of the Earth, all could have been reconstructed from the materials on hand. WF_Overview World's Fair. The fourth largest city in the United States , St. Louis hosted "The Greatest of Expositions" for 7 months. By far the largest of the several Victorian-era world's fairs, it occupied over 1,200 acres at the Western edge of St. Louis , including the western half of Forest Park . Also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the Fair commemorated the 1803 purchase of territory that more than doubled the size of the United States .

Though originally planned to take place in 1903, the Fair was delayed to 1904 in order to complete the construction of state and foreign buildings, and to permit the gathering of the thousands of exhibits. From April 30 to December 1, 1904, the Fair displayed the art, science, and cultures of the entire world. Over twelve million visitors paid 50 cents admission to enter the magical Fair. About 60 countries, 43 of the then-45 U.S. states and several U.S. territories, and hundreds of manufacturers and companies gathered together to put on an unsurpassed display of civilization, history, and culture. On display were the latest manufacturing products and processes, scientific inventions and innovations, agricultural advances, and famous paintings, sculptures, and art treasures. The 1904 World's Fair Society was formed in April 1986 when a handful of Fair enthusiasts and collectors met to discuss their common interests . Dedicated to keeping alive the memory and memorabilia of the Fair, the Society now has over 500 members.

A monthly bulletin provides articles on Fair history and Society activities, which include meetings and parties, a speaker's bureau, and Fair exhibits. More information about the Society and the 1904 World's Fair can be found on the Society's web page at: . New The most-asked question about the 1904 World's Fair is "What happened to all those magnificent buildings?", or in another way, "Why did they tear it all down?" --> Well, in early 1902, time was tight to build these giant exhibit halls (called Palaces ). The 1904 World's Fair managers (the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company) decided to follow the lead of other World's Fairs. They designed and built most of the large buildings to be temporary structures . By agreement with the city of St. Louis, one large building would be built to be permanent: the Palace of Art (see picture below) is now the St. Louis Art Museum. The temporary buildings were built on a framework of wood, and covered with a material called staff , which was formed into columns, statuary, walls, stairs, etc. It could be easily repaired and patched (and often was).

After the Fair, the Fair's buildings were demolished, and all items and materials that could be salvaged and sold were "recycled" by the salvage company, the Chicago Home Wrecking Company. There are countless Fair facts and amazing achievements that continue to astonish people, even today. Some of the more significant or interesting aspects of the 1904 World's Fair are presented here. David Rowland Francis David R. Francis was the driving force behind the St. Louis World's Fair. He led the effort to award the Fair to St. Louis and secure financing, directed its construction and the gathering of the exhibits, and also served as the Fair's president. He had previously been the Mayor of St. Louis , Governor of Missouri, and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and would later serve as U.S. Ambassador to Russia . The construction of the Fair and gathering of the exhibits and people was a monumental effort that spanned many years. Festival Hall and "The Main Picture" Festival Hall was the centerpiece of the Fair, standing atop Art Hill in front of the Palace of Art . Two hundred feet high, its gold leaf dome was larger than the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome .

It housed the largest pipe organ in the world and could seat 3,500 people in its huge auditorium for concerts. Festival Hall and The Cascades The Cascades, a magnificent composition of waterfalls, statues, and fountains, flowed from in front of Festival Hall down several waterfalls to the Grand . This comprised the Fair's "Main Picture", above. The Grand has been recently renovated with fountains, railings, and stairways. The of Transportation The major exhibit buildings (11 were called Palaces) ranged from 9 to 20 acres in size--2 to 5 times larger than the typical Famous-Barr department store! On display were the world's greatest art treasures, the latest scientific innovations in electricity and transportation, and also the most recent advancements in education and manufacturing. The enormous buildings were constructed over a frame of wood and averaged 50-60 feet high to the main roofline, and 9 to 20 acres in size. The ornate building exteriors and numerous major sculptures were made of staff , a mixture of plaster and hemp. The glistening white buildings and sculptures earned the Fair its nickname "The Ivory City".

The Palaces were designed in Neo-Classical and Roman Revival styles, and also included influences from Grecian, Roman, German, Eqyptian, Greek, and Assyrian elements. The St. Louis " at the 1904 World's Fair More than 100 sculptors produced over 1,000 major sculptures for the Fair buildings and grounds. They included the equestrian Statue of St. Louis IX titled "The Apotheosis of St. Louis". This beautiful monument was recast in bronze after the Fair and given to the City of St. Louis by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company. It was placed in front of the Art Museum, overlooking Art Hill and the Grand . For decades this statue was used as the symbol of St. Louis , until the Gateway Arch was built in the 1960s. The 1904 Olympics at the 1904 World's Fair The 1904 Olympic Games were held in St. Louis during the Fair. They were the third Olympics of the modern era, and the first Olympics held in the United States . Track and field events were held at Washington University 's gymnasium and track.

The track and concrete grandstand (which still stands) were later named Francis Field after the Fair's President, David R. Francis. "Creation" at the 1904 World's Fair " The Pike " was the Fair's popular entertainment area. Over 50 attractions included amusement rides, wild animal displays, battle museums, a " Temple of Mirth ", and fire fighting exhibitions. Fanciful trips through "The Hereafter" and "Creation" could be taken by the adventurous. A visitor could travel on simulated ship, submarine, airship, or train trips to the North Pole, Russia , or Paris . Realistic recreations included famous Naval Battles where 20-foot long 'manned' ships fired miniature cannons, and the Galveston Flood which killed over 6,000 people in 1901. A 'Piker' could visit the Tyrolean Alps village and eat at a German restaurant, or tour other 'villages' of France , and Japan , complete with native people, exhibits, and restaurants featuring native foods. But all Fair visitors wanted to take a ride on the great Observation Wheel.

The Observation or Ferris Wheel, and its Destruction The great 264' Observation, or Ferris Wheel was originally built for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and was transported to St. Louis for the 1904 World's Fair. Each of its 36 wooden cars held 60 people for a total capacity of 2160 riders. Grand dinners and even weddings took place in the spacious cars. The 'Observation Wheel' was destroyed for scrap after the Fair in May 1906, when attempts to sell or relocate the gigantic wheel failed. No one knows for sure if the Ferris Wheel's 70-ton, 45-foot axle was taken away or is still buried somewhere near the wheel's location, along Skinker Avenue were not represented at the Fair. As the host state, Missouri constructed the largest state building, which featured heating, cooling, and a gilded dome. The Missouri burned on November 19, 1904, 11 days before the Fair closed. Many state buildings were replicas of historic buildings, including Virginia 's replica of Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello and Tennessee 's model of Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

Others were reflective of the state's culture, or featured a special aspect of that state, including Texas ' star-shaped building and Washington 's 6-story tall 'wigwam', built to highlight native woods. Several smaller state buildings were dismantled, transported to other locations, and reconstructed, to serve either as homes or community purposes. The " " and the Walled City of Manila of the Philippine Exhibit The Philippine Exhibit was the largest Fair exhibit, occupying 47 acres with 100 buildings. It displayed over 1,100 natives from several Philippine tribes, including Tagalogs, Igorottes, Visayans, Muslims, Tinguianes, Pampangans, Kalingas, Mangyans, Negritos, and Bagobos. Exhibits featured recreations of the Walled City of Manila, the Bridge of Spain , and several native villages that housed the Filipino natives. The exhibitï¿½s purpose was to acquaint the Fair's visitors with America ï¿½s new commonwealth, as the Philippines were acquired by the U.S. after the 1898 Spanish-American War. The Igorotte tribe gained much publicity and notoriety from their cultural habit of eating dog meat.

's Grand Trianon of Versailles, and China 's summer residence of Prince Pu Lun, who visited the Fair. The Flight Cage, or Bird Cage All branches of the United States Government participated, with most exhibits concentrated in the U.S. Government building. The gigantic 228-foot long Flight Cage was built by the Smithsonian Institution to house the U. S. Bird Exhibit. Fifty feet high and 84 feet wide, it was split lengthwise into two sections by a wire mesh wall. Visitors could walk through the "Flight Cage" in a 'tunnel' of wire mesh to view the birds. The City of St. Louis purchased what is now called the "Bird Cage" after the Fair, and this display helped provide the impetus to establish a St. Louis Zoo. The Floral Clock The great Floral Clock, 112 feet in diameter, was a popular exhibit on a hillside near the Palace of Agriculture . The thousands of flowering plants on the clockï¿½s face were 'timed' to bloom throughout the passing of the day's hours. The tip of the 74-foot long minute hand moved 6 feet every minute.

The 1904 World's Fair Society owns the clock's master works, which is presently on display at the History and Metallurgy. Vulcan is still is on display on a mountaintop near Birmingham . The Ice Cream Cone is often heralded as being invented at the Fair (and probably was). The story is told that an ice cream vendor ran out of dishes, and used thin waffles from a neighboring booth rolled into cones to hold his ice cream. However, several variations of this story exist, as told by different claimants of being the 'inventor' of the ice cream cone. However, stories and legends about the 'invention' of iced tea, the hot dog, Dr. Pepper, and cotton candy at the 1904 Fair are false . While these foods were clearly 'popularized' at the Fair, there is clear evidence of these foodï¿½s earlier 'invention', sales, and consumption. See Myths and Legends - Food for more details. The World's Fair Pavilion and The Jefferson Memorial The remarkable 1904 World's Fair was the only profitable Fair of the Victorian era.

The proceeds were used after the Fair to build two major structures in Forest Park : the World's Fair Pavilion and the Jefferson Memorial History Museum, which was the first memorial to honor the nation's third President. The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair was the grandest gathering of cultures, knowledge, and exhibits the world had ever seen at the start of the 20th century, and put the City of St. Louis on display to the world. The Fair displayed the history and pride of the young United States , and also helped to lay the foundation for future advances in the sciences. Today, the Fair is still held close to the hearts of most St. Louisans as they fondly remember "The Greatest Fair Ever"! All the World's A Fair - Explore St. Louis 1. Gateway Arch 1.0 Hour It is fitting that the tour starts at the Gateway Arch – the internationally recognized symbol of St. Louis, Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase, and subsequent westward expansion of the nation. Groups can take the popular tram ride to the top of the 630-feet-tall monument for amazing views of the majestic Mississippi River and all of St. Louis. 2.

Forest Park 2.0 Hours When the world came to St. Louis in 1904, Forest Park served as the main fairgrounds for the great Fair. Today, the 1,300-acre park remains one of St. Louis’ premiere attractions and visitor destinations not only for its World’s Fair heritage, but for the treasure trove of free attraction within it. 3. Saint Louis Art Museum 2.0 Hours Visitors can walk in the footsteps of fairgoers at the Saint Louis Art Museum, the only permanent exhibition facility built for the 1904 “Meet Me in St. Louis” World’s Fair. As it did in 1904, the museum houses masterpieces and ancient artifacts reflecting thousands of years of human culture from around the world. Words engraved above the main entrance to the museum read: Dedicated to Art and Free to All. The Saint Louis Art Museum’s permanent collection is open to the public free of charge. Note the statue of Saint Louis, King of France outside the museum’s main entrance. The statue originally was located at the head of the Plaza during the Fair and was the first large piece of statuary to greet visitors passing through the main entrance gates. 4.

Saint Louis Zoo 3 hours Another spectacular structure remaining from the Fair is found at the Saint Louis Zoo, just east of the Art Museum in Forest Park. The giant walk-through Flight Cage was the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit at the Fair. At 228 feet long, 84 feet wide and 50 feet high, it was the largest aviary ever built and today it remains one of the largest free flight cages in the world. The landmark structure, which served as the impetus for the development of the Forest Park location of the Saint Louis Zoo in 1913, is a cornerstone of the Zoo’s Bird Garden. It brings visitors closer to the feathered creatures who reside in a lushly landscaped exhibit called Cypress Swamp, a habitat for birds native to the lower Mississippi River. 5. World's Fair Pavilion 0.5 Hours The World’s Fair Pavilion is perched high atop a hill to the east of the Flight Cage. Built on the site of the Fair’s original Missouri Building, the Pavilion was designed to be a lasting memorial to the Fair. 6.

Forest Park Boathouse 1.5 Hours In 1904, a popular mode of transportation through the fairgrounds was a boat ride through the miles of canals that wound through Forest Park. Modern day visitors can relive the romance of the Fair on a paddleboat ride from the cheerful Forest Park Boathouse. Boaters can paddle to a picnic island in the lake, cruise around a wildlife island and enjoy eight new fountains that now dot the Grand Canal beneath the Saint Louis Art Museum. 7. Missouri History Museum 2 hours The magnitude and pageantry of the Fair sometimes overshadowed the event it was staged to commemorate – the centennial of the signing of the Louisiana Purchase and the consequent exploration of the new territory by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. At the Missouri History Museum, also located within Forest Park, groups can see the original Louisiana Purchase Transfer Document that formalized the transfer of the Upper Louisiana Territory from Spain to France to the United States on March 9 and 10, 1804 in St. Louis. A map of the Louisiana Purchase territory that traces Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery route is etched in the stone walkway at the museum’s north entry.

Galleries within the museum also include artifacts from the Lewis & Clark journey and the rest of Clark’s life in St. Louis. The Missouri History Museum’s continuing exhibit, “1904 World’s Fair: Looking Back at Looking Forward,” showcases the people, entertainment, food, and the many objects, artworks and examples of technology that were on view in St. Louis during the seven magical months that the Fair was open. 8. Francis Field at Washington University 1.0 Hour In addition to hosting the Fair, St. Louis became the first American city to host the Olympic Games. The 1904 games were held at Francis Field on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, just west of the World’s Fair grounds in Forest Park. Drive by the athletic field and gymnasium, still in use today by the university, which held the majority of the track and field events. Francis Gymnasium and Francis Field, both used as venues during the 1904 Olympics, are named for David Rowland Francis, an 1870 graduate of Washington University, governor of Missouri, president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company (1904 World’s Fair), and U.S. ambassador to Russia.

9. St. Louis Union Station 1.0 Hour To get to the fair, thousands traveled to the city by train, and they were greeted by a stunning architectural gem in St. Louis Union Station. Today, the National Historic Landmark has been beautifully restored and redeveloped as a festival marketplace of specialty shops, restaurants and a luxury hotel. Union Station provides self-guided exhibits, including one on the World’s Fair that celebrates the station’s history since opening in 1894. Historic memorabilia is housed in display cases located throughout the station and within the free “Memories Museum.” 1. Central Library – St. Louis Public Library 1 hour Visit the century-old St. Louis Public Library , a magnificent building designed by world-famous architect Cass Gilbert in 1912 and restored for its 100th anniversary. Known as Central Library, it is one of 16 branches in the St. Louis Public Library system. The building’s classic beauty, now complemented with 21st century technology means visitors can find information about the 1904 World’s Fair, Civil War battle maps, learn a new language or create their own high-quality recording. 2.

Scott Joplin House 2 hours Composer Scott Joplin’s famous Rag, “The Cascades,” was inspired by the beautiful fountains in Forest Park that welcomed visitors to the Fair. The popular entertainment of the era, including Ragtime music, could be found along the section of the Fairgrounds known as “The Pike.” A stop at the Scott Joplin House allows visitors to tour the two-story antebellum structure that was home to the “King of Ragtime” during some of his most productive years. 3. Chatillon-DeMenil Mansio 2 hours The restored 1848 Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion houses an extravagant and diverse collection of 1904 World’s Fair memorabilia. More than 1,200 pieces are on view including photographs and souvenirs in excellent condition. Visitors can tour the entire antebellum Greek Revival home, a National Historic Landmark. 4. Missouri Botanical Garden 3 hours Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation’s oldest public garden and was a tourist attraction at the time of the 1904 World’s Fair.

Beautiful stone lanterns from the 1904 Fair are displayed within Seiwa-En, the largest traditional Japanese garden in North America located on the Gardens southern edge. 5. Grant's Farm 3 hours Among the interesting exhibits at the 1904 World’s Fair was the log cabin home hand-built by 18th U.S. President and Civil War general Ulysses S. Grant. Just as Fairgoers did in 1904, modern day group visitors to St. Louis can view the cabin which is the only house still standing that was hand-built and occupied by a U.S. president. At the time of the Fair, the home had been moved from its original St. Louis County location and brought to the fairgrounds. After the Fair, Grant’s Cabin was purchased by Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch brewing fame) who was an admirer of Grant. Busch moved it to his property on Gravois Road that was once owned by Grant’s in-laws. The land is now part of the Grant’s Farm animal preserve which is operated as a free family attraction by Anheuser-Busch.

Question: Where was the World Fair held in 1903?
Answer: St. Louis