1903
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| Previous Day | 1902 |
|---|---|
| Next Day | 1904-01 |
Below is a list of events that happened during 1903.
Events
January
January 1, 1903
- Louisiana Commission appointed.
- Association of Implement and Vehicle Men on the grounds.
January 6, 1903:
- George W. Ristine made Director of Transportation.
January 7, 1903:
- Last roof trusses placed for Varied Industries building.
January 13, 1903:
- Committee on International Congresses created.
January 16, 1903:
- Arrival of Japanese Commission.
January 17, 1903:
- Governor of Indiana and commissioners visit Fairgrounds.
January 22, 1903:
- Louisiana's Governor and commissioners visit grounds.
January 23, 1903:
- Governor and commissioners of Minnesota on the grounds.
January 24, 1903:
- Coining of souvenir dollars completed.
February 2, 1903:
- Meeting of Executive Committee of National Press Association.
- Contract for Exposition power house awarded.
February 22, 1903:
- Geo. W. Fishback appointed commissioner to Windward Islands, Porto Rico and Trinidad.
February 10, 1903:
- Refrigerating exhibit determined on; G. T. Voorhees made chief.
- Rolla Wells and H. I. Miller elected directors to fill vacancies.
February 11, 1903:
- Arrival of Hon. W. H. Figg, special commissioner from Ceylon.
February 26, 1903:
- Spanish minister, Don Emilio de Ojedo, visited the grounds.
March 3, 1903:
- Annual meeting of stockholders; all directors reelected.
March 7, 1903:
- Olympic games definitely secured.
March 8, 1903:
- Contract for Agricultural building awarded.
March 16, 1903:
- Work begun on Mexican pavilion.
March 17, 1903:
- E. N. Armit appointed Superintendent of Construction under Director I. [Isaac] S. Taylor.
March 24, 1903:
- Chinese imperial decree appropriating $400,000 for exhibit.
April 1 to 29, 1903:
- All energies centered on preparations for dedication.
April 30, -2, 1903:
- Three days' elaborate dedication ceremonies, participated in by President Roosevelt; ex-President Cleveland; officers of the nation and all the states; representatives of all foreign governments; military and civic dignitaries of the whole world.
AGENDA - April 30, 1903 * AGENDA - May 1, 1903 * AGENDA - May 2, 1903 * Notes: * Allegedly, the Palace of Liberal Arts was the first palace "completed". Roosevelt said to have spoken there on Dedication Day, April 30, 1903. * Palace of Transportation was last palace built.
?, 1903:
- A new memorial for William Clark was unveiled during the centennial of the expedition with funds donated by Clark s youngest son, Jefferson Clark.
February, 1903: PIC> Palace of Transportation construction begins.
February 10, 1903:
- President David R. Francis left St. Louis on a Tuesday [for European solicitation tour]. On the wing 41 days and traveled 12,920 total miles on trip. Got promises of other rulers to take active interest in Fair.
February 11, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at New York, a 1,200 mile trip from St. Louis, MO.
February 12, 1903:
- President David R. Francis sailed for Havre, France, on La Bretagne.
- Olympic games for 1904 were transferred from Chicago to St. Louis. St. Louis wanted the Olympics, and threatened to hold a competing AAU championship and other sporting events.
February 20, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at Havre, France, 3,300 miles from New York.
February 21, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at London, England, 200 miles from Havre, France. Got King Edward's promise to send Queen's jubilee gifts.
February 22, 1903:
- President David R. Francis delivered address at Washington's birthday dinner in London.
March, 1903: PIX> Dept of Works occupy offices in Washington University, Busch Hall. PIC> Palace of Transportation getting final statuary & plaster work.
March 1, 1903:
- President David R. Francis departed for France.
March 2, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at Paris, 300 miles from London, England. Interviewed President of France.
March 4, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at Madrid, 908 miles from Paris, France. He interviewed the Ministers of the King of Spain.
March 7, 1903:
- President David R. Francis banqueted by Board of Trade in Paris.
March 8, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at Berlin, Germany, 1,582 miles from Paris, France.
March 9, 1903:
- President David R. Francis private audience with German Emperor.
March 10, 1903:
- President David R. Francis private audience with King of Belgium.
March 11, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at Cherbourg, France, en route to the United States, 400 miles from Belgium.
March 12, 1903:
- President David R. Francis departed from Cherbourg, France, across Atlantic Ocean for New York.
March 17, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived at New York at 6 pm, 3,450 miles.
March 19, 1903:
- President David R. Francis banqueted in grand style at Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
March 20, 1903:
- President David R. Francis at dinner with magazine publishers in New York.
March 21, 1903:
- President David R. Francis lunched with President Roosevelt in Washington DC.
March 22, 1903:
- President David R. Francis arrived in St. Louis at 7:45 pm [presumably by train].
March 23, 1903:
- Reception on 'Change at noon.
- Evening dinner by Mayor Wells at St. Louis Club.
March 24, 1903:
- Welcoming concert in evening by United Singing Societies.
March 28, 1903:
- Smoker by Kentucky Society evening.
April 16, 1903:
- Major Andrew G. Hammond, 3rd Cavalry, United States Army, served as Jefferson Guard assistant commandant until the force was disbanded on February 1, 1905.
April 30, 1903:
- Centennial Day.
- Dedication events:
- Large parade down Lindell Blvd.
- [Multiple] ceremonies.
PIX> Dignitaries and significant attenders arrive through the Triumphal Entry amid the decorative pylons for speeches, parade, and a commemorative celebration. PIX> Roosevelt spoke in Palace of Liberal Arts to a large and, evidently, loud crowd. Insuring he'd be heard, Roosevelt stepped up onto tabletop to speak. & PIC> A 100-gun salute was executed.
May 1, 1903:
- Diplomatic Day (honoring nations at the Fair):
- Dedication Ceremonies:
PIC> Mounted members of Eighth Cavalry parade through Fairgrounds.
May 2, 1903:
- State Day (honoring states and territories at the Fair).
- Civic Day.
- Dedication Ceremonies:
PIX> Civic Parade.
August, 1903:
- Catlin Tract purchased, to be the new location of The Pike.
August 5, 1903: PIX> Huge storm damages many buildings - Palace of Varied Industries loses 2 towers & a wall, estimated $35,000 in damages, & Mexico Pavilion on Skinker Road damaged slightly.
August 29, 1903: PIC> David R. Francis laid cornerstone of Edward Gardner Lewis' Publishing Co. HQ, later known as Women's Magazine Building on Delmar Blvd.
October, 1903: PIX> Hall of Congresses construction, roofing work.
October 22, 1903: PIC> Alejandro Bermudez, Nicaragua's Commissioner-General to the LPE, and other members of the Nicaragua Commission to the exposition met with exposition officers.
November, 1903: PIC> Snowed (Jefferson Guard at attention outside Cupples Hall No.2)
November 19, 1903: PIC> Belgium Pavilion construction began before this date.
November 30, 1903: PIC> Women's Magazine Building construction appears complete.
December, 1903:
- Snowed.
December 3, 1903: PIC> (no snow) South Dakota State Building site dedicated.
December 4, 1903: PIC> (no snow) The Pike lamppost row installation in process in front of Old St. Louis.
December 10, 1903: PIC> Physical Culture Athletic Field construction begun this date.
December 16, 1903: PIC> snow on ground.
December 15-18, 1903: PIC> Board of Lady Managers met in STL. Posed with David R. Francis, LPEC Pres. on Admin Bldg front steps in Dec.
- The loan was paid back in 1904 from admission fees and concession royalties. Total capital funding now $19.6M.
