Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition
lewis clark centennial exposition commonly also known lewis clark exposition officially known lewis clark centennial american pacific exposition oriental fair worldwide exposition held portland oregon united state celebrate centennial lewis clark expedition officially considered world fair bureau international exposition often informally described exposition attracted exhibit visitor around world exposition fourmonth run attracted million visitor featured exhibit country portland grew resident spurt attributed exposition since founding portland evolved major economic center largely fueled arrival railroad three transcontinental railroad used portland pacific coast terminus – northern southern union pacific railroad meanwhile portland wheat flour industry growing amazing rate portland held largest flour mill pacific coast unparalleled timber industry continued grow oregon second wooded area square mile quantity standing lumber oregon lead union billion foot oregon shipping growing fueled million project dike dredge columbia river time oregon population grew percent growth compared percent growth nation whole despite positive factor though oregon unaffected nationwide long depression particular effect job lost across country railroad grew fast weak banking system agricultural value fell state elite business leader attempted devise plan boost economy dan mcallen dry good merchant suggested portland mark new century pull economic slump holding sort international fair since area focus issue proposal went unnoticed year idea fair came occasionally concentrated effort made various reason mid sort action began jm long portland board trade put together provisional committee begin planning sort fair soon permanent board conceived head portland general electric company henry w goode became president board director others included n fleischner first vicepresident oskar huber director work colonel henry e dosch director exhibit henry e reed secretary j wakefield director concession admission portland wealthy powerful men working together create event unmatched grandeur power although true motivation fair came economic business standpoint still crucial theme publicity décor theme portland fair came advice oregon historical society suggested centennial anniversary lewis clark expedition stay oregon would perfect event commemorate director wanted include dream economic growth well combined two idea title summed dual goal historic commemoration regional boosterism lewis clark centennial american pacific exposition oriental fair addition motto decided focus festivity bolster publicity westward course empire take way theme set men began securing exhibit getting support investment getting government backing crucial due personal investment already made ladd tilton bank invested northern pacific railroad another brewer henry weinhard many substantial investment hotel imperial hotel company purchased share worth restaurant streetcar company retailer – group much gain success fair economic prosperity could provide addition approximately average citizen purchased stock certificate investment opportunity support viewed worthwhile venture individual investment eventually paid greatly seeing potential benefit fair success state legislature began planning appropriation fair although little interest historical hero mile km trek shared vision pacific trade motivated exploration settlement oregon country thus legislature passed act celebrating one hundredth anniversary exploration oregon country appropriated sum approximately fair fair completion reported money expended two department amounted four hundred thousand dollar state appropriating expended commission stockholder corporation subscribed equal amount proceeds exposition expended entirely direction corporation government united state appropriated equal value exhibit exact amount unable give thus fair received funding hold exposition bill appropriated fund also created special commission oversee organization fair commission reported lewis clark exposition held jointly authorization act creating commission commission lewis clark exposition corporation first assembling may committee appointed government intent sharing burden planning date chose president jefferson myers made speech urging hearty cooperation lewis clark director bring best result later repeated assurance help director seemed go well assistance helped guide fair governmental hurdle inherent planning venture closing fair henry reed secretary exposition corporation created hefty volume documenting whole process planning running event spoke highly government involvement wrote state oregon gave solid help lewis clark centennial exposition state union ever given exposition held within border also specifically grateful city portland assistance noted cordial enthusiastic backing invaluable success fair praise portland repeated state commission supporting city great assistance gaining necessary financial backing commission came board director began process choosing site hold fair number location considered east west side willamette river three main site eastern side university park site university portland city view park sellwood park oak park hawthorne park industrial area western site considered city park washington park guild lake balch creek watershed guild lake site everyone portland vaguely aware though one site selection subcommittee could remember whether evaporated dry season inspection showed remained depth foot summer therefore would appropriate site september oregon journal reported fair official hot trail site confidently predicted something shortly next day reported committee narrowed choice two tract willamette height west side hawthorne park portion ladd tract east side willamette height chosen claimed natural advantage offered willamette height outweigh consideration guild lake said utilized great advantage made scene beauty voting lewis clark exposition site – grove tree acre km pasture acre km waisthigh stagnant water site center guild lake numerous advantage site located edge settlement portland easily accessed populace two local trolley line portland railway city suburban railway ran within one block proposed entrance guild lake also advantage located adjacent recently constructed vaughn street park baseball stadium would prove rather useful operation fair site also accessible river steamer provided visitor ride site cent site sold private development prior fair leased back city event numerous individual involved design construction fairground building olmsted brother design firm hired develop plan ground plan designed john charles olmsted took advantage scenic view available site including mount st helen river olmsted also developed plan portland park system visit ion lewis firm whidden lewis supervised board seven architect responsible designing fair building six architect edgar lazarus emil schacht justus f krumbein david c lewis richard martin jr henry j hefty majority building style spanish renaissance decorated architectural flourish dome cupola arched doorway redcolored roof building intended permanent largely constructed plaster wooden frame resulted rather low construction cost cent per foot major exception forestry building log cabin said world largest constructed long unhewn log contained exhibit local forestry product wildlife native american photograph building foot long foot wide foot high x x cost nearly building stood destroyed fire inspired western forestry center replacement also inspired lobby glacier park lodge montana fair lit night incandescent light well large searchlight government building designed thomas h wright working portland general electric addition numerous statue adorned ground several statue remain today including alice cooper sacajawea jeanbaptiste stand washington park thousand light bulb used outline building bridge statue result spectacular nighttime view exhibit took three year assemble exposition opened june ran october four half month span included exhibition nation u state well numerous branch federal government private organization multnomah athletic club amateur club portland oregon assisted organizing lewis clark athletic game championship contest largest exhibit foreign nation italy whose pavilion contained large collection marble statue germany france also spent enormous sum exhibit latter providing replica drawing room king louis xiv japan spent million significant sum exhibit including numerous cultural artifact porcelain silk lantern state exhibit exposition alaska arizona california colorado idaho illinois louisiana maine massachusetts missouri montana nebraska new york north dakota oregon oklahoma utah washington wyoming attending state granted day publicize exhibit often attended visiting dignitary extensive exhibit topic agriculture technology music mormon tabernacle choir sent exhibit smithsonian institution numerous famous artist claude monet featured exhibit controversial modern standard offensive exhibit philippine igorot tribespeople displayed order convince american populace legitimacy recent u conquest philippine taken spain recently concluded spanish–american war exhibit included igorots living simulated village engaging traditional activity activity preparation consumption dog meat would viewed primitive visitor many exhibitor turned away due lack space addition major exhibit pavilion site also featured amusement park various sideshow concert free motion picture novelty day blimp excursion numerous vendor selling food item site finish line transcontinental automobile race hell gate portland two driver sponsored old motor work amateur athletic union national track field championship held portland vaughn street park portland pacific coast league baseball team known giant played season different venue portland multnomah amateur athletic club organized cricket match fair portland cricket club founded victoria cricket club founded consequently pacific coast tournament played victoria david sentance u cricket historian author cricket america fair economic measure major success entire run fair box office recorded almost million paid admission average visitor per day ticket fair cost cent adult quarter child fortythousand visitor attended opening day attended fourth july anniversary portland incorporation daily attendance record visitor set vast majority nearly visitor pacific northwest almost half local resident people visited exposition getting free paying visitor visitor east mississippi river unusual exposition lewis clark centennial exposition profitable turning gross profit nearly capital investor received return investment addition impact local economy significant estimated million outoftown guest came portland resulting million dollar figure added economy addition construction fairground provided construction job little lewis clark centennial exposition remains today vast majority structure designed temporary torn following year structure moved elsewhere remained use long time famously forestry building reinforced concrete foundation converted forestry museum burned ground august replacement museum built portland washington park today known world forestry center building fair remain standing today including fairmount hotel american inn national cash register building mcmenamins st john theater pub half million pink hybrid tea rose bush mme caroline testout planted along street portland lewis clark exposition many remain today many people moved portland following fair many house around portland built year followed also many street paving sidewalk project year followed fair many sidewalk portland east portland especially dated guild lake cutoff meander willamette river around fairground built slowly filled industrial developer port portland year fair lake vanished entirely year ground used garbage incinerator landfill rail switching yard wartime housing warehouse today ground formerly occupied lake fairground still used primarily industrial purpose designated industrial sanctuary city portland harvey w scott president exposition – oregon centennial exposition lewis clark centennial exposition portland record collection portland oregon historical society abbott carl great extravaganza portland lewis clark exposition portland oregon historical society p piper edgar b april portland lewis clark centennial exposition american monthly review review reed henry history lewis clark centennial exposition unpublished available oh call number ms b reed henry e april great west two east north american review young frederic george lewis clark centennial occasion observance oregon historical quarterly zwick jim world fair exposition defining america world archived original oregon historical society oregon bluebook lewis clark exposition exhibit home page extensive postcard collection pdxhistorycom high resolution image oregon state university archive flickr common page portland exposition new student reference work