Baltic Exhibition

The Baltic Exhibition was held in Malmö, Sweden from May 15, 1914 through October 4, 1914. (The official closing date, September 30, was later extended by four days, as permitted in the general rules.)

The event showcased the industry, art and culture of Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Russia — the four countries then bordering the Baltic Sea. The city itself has no beaches on the Baltic, but there is one nearby at Øresund.

The Baltic Games were held at the same time; the swimming competitions, lasting for twelve days, attracted many internationally known athletes.

For the occasion, many of Malmö's parks were renovated and a large new park, Pildammsparken, was created. The Swedish architect Ferdinand Boberg designed several of the exhibition buildings, most of which were removed soon after the event closed. The Åhléns Pavilion, relocated to the town of Insjön in Dalarna, was one of the few structures to survive. The songs Malmövalsen and Baltirullan, written to celebrate the fair, have lived on through recordings in both Sweden and the United States. The latter song can be found at video-sharing websites and digital download services in a recording from 2008.

World War I interrupted the exhibition when Germany and Russia entered the conflict on opposing sides. After the war, Russia no longer existed, and some of the Russian art displayed in Malmö remained and eventually became part of the city's own collections.

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