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 Main entrance of Creation | |
| Official Name | Louisiana Purchase Exposition |
|---|---|
| Theme | 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Louisiana Purchase |
| Location | Forest Park, Missouri |
| Fair President | David Rowland Francis |
| Dates | April 30th - December 1st, 1904 (215 days) |
| Hours | 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Area | 1,272 acres |
| Size | 9,500 feet long, 6,000 feet wide (roughly 2 square miles) |
| Cost | $50,000,000 (equivalent to $1,507,962,963 in 2021) |
| Daily Admission | 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for children |
| Total Attendance | 19,694,855 |
| Average Daily Attendance | 85,197 |
| Opening Day Attendance | 187,793 visitors, 178,423 paid attendees |
| Best Month Attendance | September (3,651,873) |
| Number of Days to See Everything | 17-18 |
| Number of Buildings | 1,576 |
| Total Walkway & Roadways | 75 miles |
| Ice Plant Production | 300 tons of ice per day |
| Fair Security | Jefferson Guards |
| Landscape Architect | George E Kessler |
| Trees & Landscaping cost | $1,679,000 (equivalent to $50,637,396 in 2021) |
Informally known as The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, was arguably the grandest World's Fair ever, hosted by the fourth largest city in the United States St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904. Opened on April 30, 1904, The Fair (delayed one year), celebrated the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase which more than doubled the size of the United States.
An army of over 10,000 laborers, head by designer George Kessler transformed the Fair's 1,272-acre site, which was located at the present-day western edge of Forest Park and the city of St. Louis as well as the campus of Washington University. It was the largest and most beautiful of the Victorian-era World's Fairs. Ex-mayor of St. Louis, David Rowland Francis, was the main driving force behind securing the Fair's financing, supervising its building, and the gathering of the Exposition's exhibits. He also served as the Exposition's president.
After the construction was finished, there was over 1,500 buildings on the fairgrounds, connected by some 75 miles of roads and walkways. It was said to be impossible to give even a hurried glance at the entire Fair in less than a week. The Palace of Agriculture alone covered some 20 acres.
Areas
- Most of the amusements were on The Pike.
- Some attractions were located Off The Pike.
- States had their own displays on the Plateau of States.
- Twelve Great Palaces made up the Main Picture.
- Various Nations had displays in the National Pavilions.
- The newly acquired Philippines had a large Philippine Exhibit.
- Mining Technology was on display in the Mining Gulch.
- Many buildings were leased from Washington University.
- There was a complete Model City.
- There were also buildings on The Trail.
- There were many Support Buildings on the Grounds.
- There were many ways to get Transportation at the fair.
