EXPO San Francisco 1915 | |
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Floodlit pavilion at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The Tower of Jewels on the left, and the Italian Tower on the right.
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Overview | |
BIE-class | Universal exposition |
Category | Historical Expo |
Name | Panama-Pacific International Exposition |
Area | 636 acres (257 ha) |
Visitors | 18,876,438 |
Organized by | George Kelham |
Participant(s) | |
Countries | 24 |
Location | |
Country | United States |
City | San Francisco |
Venue | Marina District |
Coordinates | 37°48′16.8″N 122°26′48″W / 37.804667°N 122.44667°W |
Timeline | |
Opening | March 2, 1915 |
Closure | December 4, 1915 |
Universal expositions | |
Previous | Exposition universelle et internationale (1913) in Ghent |
Next | Independence Centenary International Exposition in Rio de Janeiro |
Simultaneous | |
Other | Panama–California Exposition |
The Panama–Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) was a world's fair held in San Francisco, in the United States, between February 20 and December 4 in 1915. Its ostensible purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery from the 1906 earthquake. The fair was constructed on a 635 acre (2.6 km2) site in San Francisco, along the northern shore, between the Presidio and Fort Mason, now known as the Marina District.
Among the exhibits at the Exposition was the C. P. Huntington, the first steam locomotive purchased by Southern Pacific Railroad; the locomotive is now on static display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. A telephone line was also established to New York City so people across the continent could hear the Pacific Ocean. The Liberty Bell traveled by train on a nationwide tour from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to attend the exposition. After that trip, the Liberty Bell returned to Philadelphia, and has not made any further journeys since.
The 1915 American Grand Prize and Vanderbilt Cup auto races were held February 27 and March 6 on a 3.84-mile (6.18 km) circuit set up around the Exposition grounds. The Smithsonian Institution also had an exhibition at the Exposition.