Plateau of States

The Plateau of States was an ideal site for the forty or more beautiful homes, erected by the various States of the Union at the southeastern portion of the fairgrounds. As a rule, these State buildings are merely handsome club houses for the comfort and convenience of the people from the several States, though some buildings ; such as Alaska, displayed their resources. Many of them had restaurants that fairgoers could use to sample regional cuisine.

On Independence Day, 179,258 people visited the Fair. They were all encouraged to visit their `home' state building where they could sign a registry. Free gift souvenirs and token were given out that day.

Buildings

• Arkansas
• California
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Indian Territory
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Vermont

Non-Participating States

The following states did not have an official state building at the Fair.

Alabama

Alabama made no appropriation from its treasury for an official building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. Taxes could not allow the city of Birmingham to raise the capitol.

Delaware

Delaware had no official building as well as no official entries or exhibits at the 1904 World's Fair.

Florida

Florida did not have an official building but did show an expensive fruit exhibit in the Palace of Agriculture.

Hawaii

Hawaii did not have an official building and at the last minute, due to funding issues, they had to back out. They did have some displays in the US Government Building.

North Carolina

North Carolina did not have an official state building.

The state exhibited a strong exhibit of crops and produce in the Palaces of Agriculture and Horticulture.

In the Mines Palace, North Carolina's area he exhibit covered a floor space of about 2,200 square feet. It consisted of a full, systematic collection of the minerals of the State, a representation of the ores of gold, copper, silver, iron, nickel, and tin that are native to North Carolina, and a very full exhibit of the economic minerals. Also, the state exhibited: diamonds, garnets, beryls, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other rare gems.

At the Palace of Agriculture, there were exhibits of special tobacco displays and the collection of grains and seeds in the main space.

North Carolina's display at the Department of Horticulture was small, because of a poor growing season that year.

The state's largest exhibit was at the Palace of Forestry, Fish, and Game.

North Dakota

North Dakota did not have an official building, the commission decided to pool their $50,000 appropriation for exhibits at the Palaces of Mines and Metallurgy (lignite and Portland cement), Education, Agriculture (their principal display), Horticulture and Forestry, Fish and Game.

North Dakota did have a very popular exhibit at the Palace of Agriculture, the display of the `Roosevelt Cabin.' From 1883 to 1886, President Roosevelt, a cattle owner in western North Dakota at the time, occupied this two-roomed log cabin. Inside, there was furniture, Roosevelt's clothes, wall-mounted animals and such that decorated the cabin. Also, exhibits of every variety of grain and species of grass grown in the state, gathered from the very best samples obtained from the crop of 1903, were shown.

The Mines Palace housed the states display of coal, clays, cement, building stones, etc.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico did not have an official building but in the Palace of Agriculture, not far from the main entrance, was found the Puerto (spelled Porto back then) Rico section. Built by native architect, Armando Morales, and cost 5,000 dollars, it was in the nature of a pagoda of two floors. The lower one was dedicated to agriculture, mines, forestry, and a few of the manufactures exhibits.

On the second floor were the liberal arts and manufactures exhibits and the offices of the commission; also the needlework display, which was collected and exhibited by the Women's Aid Society, San Juan, and the Benevolent Society, Ponce.

Rubber, coffee, dye woods and tropical fruits were also shown in a variety of palaces.

The island received the highest awards in straw hats, needlework, rice, beans, cotton, and pharmaceutical products.

Puerto Rico also has a small display in the US Government Building.