St. Louis World's Fair

On Wednesday, Dave and I attended our first one-day, local Elderhostel--St. Louis World's Fair---held at the Jefferson Memorial History Museum. The curator of the museum gave us a lecture on the St. Louis World's Fair with photos. Then, we went upstairs to the exhibit for a docent to show us the items.



Some interesting statistics were---the entire Louisiana Purchase (ll states?) cost $15 million---the same as the World's Fair commemorating it. They had a school, working hospital and babies on display in incubators! They had a hotel built inside the grounds of the Fair (Inside Inn) which housed 5000 guests---no hotel at this time is that large in St. Louis.

Because the Fair was so huge, young Ivy-league men were hired ($.25) to push people in these wicker wheeled chairs---a favorite mode of transportation for many (especially the young ladies). The bus pictured above was another option.
Then, we went downstairs for a delicious lunch and a one-person show depicting a 12 year old boy going to the fair.

Next, we got on a bus and drove around to the various sites.

This is the World's Fair Pavilion which was erected on the site of the Missouri Pavilion one of 3 permanent structures built. Unfortunately, it caught fire and burned down at the end of the fair. This was built in its place. Another permanent structure is the "bird cage" (9) which was built by the Smithsonian Institute as the beginning of our wonderful zoo.

As a child the fountain at the World's Fair Pavilion was one of my favorite places to go on a summer evening. The fountains danced and had colored lights--a refreshing treat for a child in the pre-air conditioning days.

Our art museum pictured below was the third permanent structure. During the fair, it did have two temporary wings in addition to what is seen below. Apparently museums around the world were hesitant to lend art to the World's Fair if it was to be displayed in a temporary building so the art museum had to be built to last.
In front of the Art Museum was the large domed Festival Hall (seating 3500) and the Grand Basin. The Grand Basin is still there although it no longer has the cascades tumbling down the hill nor the canals with gondolas. One photo is from the top and the other (on the bus) is looking up. The Chain of Rocks water treatment plant was built to purify the Mississippi River (Click here and scroll down to see this 1894 structure). The Fair organizers didn't think muddy water cascading down the hill would be that attractive (apparently, that's the way the water was before the fair---housewives had to let their household water settle before using it)

I wasn't aware that in addition to Forest Park, the World's Fair encompassed much of Washington University and the surrounding area (including Concordia Seminary and Fontbonne College) Pictured below is the site of a huge floral clock. Across the street (on the golf course) was where the huge Ferris Wheel was located. Here is the model in the museum (remember each car held 60 people).

This is Francis Field at Washington University. It was the first North American site of the Olympics.
After the bus tour, we went back to the museum and saw the film The World's Greatest Fair. We had a wonderful day. Although Elderhostel has another day scheduled for November, there's a waitlist for it. They are hoping to schedule another class for the spring. Click here for more information.