Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition

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The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, commonly also known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and officially known as the Lewis and Clark Centennial American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, was a worldwide exposition held in Portland, Oregon, United States in 1905 to celebrate the centennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. While not officially considered a World's Fair by the Bureau of International Expositions, it is often informally described as such; the exposition attracted both exhibits and visitors from around the world. During the exposition's four month run, it attracted over 1.6 million visitors, and featured exhibits from 21 countries.

Contents

[edit] Preparations

[edit] Early Oregon

Since its founding in 1845, Portland had evolved into a major economic center, largely fueled by the arrival of the railroads. Three transcontinental railroads used Portland as their Pacific coast terminus – the Northern, Southern, and Union Pacific Railroads.[1] Meanwhile, Portland’s wheat and flour industries were growing at an amazing rate, and Portland held “the largest flour mill on the Pacific coast.”[1] The unparalleled timber industry continued to grow, as “Oregon is second [in wooded area], with 54,300 square miles” and “in quantity of standing lumber, Oregon leads the Union, with 300 billion feet…”[2] Oregon’s shipping was growing, too, fueled by a $1.5 million project to dike and dredge the Columbia River.[3] Through all this, Oregon’s population grew from 13,294 in 1850 to 413,536 in 1900 – a 3,000 percent growth in merely fifty years.[4] This growth, when compared to the nation’s “mere” 1000 percent growth, was enormous, and a true sign of the vast wealth available in Oregon.

Despite all these positive factors, though, Oregon was not unaffected by the nationwide Long Depression, which had particular effect in 1893. Jobs were lost across the country as railroads grew too fast on a weak banking system and agricultural values fell. The state’s elite business leaders all attempted to devise plans to boost the economy. Dan McAllen, a dry goods merchant, suggested in 1895 “that Portland mark the new century and pull itself out of its economic slump by holding some sort of international fair.”[5] Since the area’s focus was on other issues, his proposal went unnoticed for a few years. The idea of a fair came up again occasionally, but no concentrated effort was made for various reasons. It was not until mid-1900 that this sort of action began, when “J.M. Long of the Portland Board of Trade put together a provisional committee” to begin planning some sort of fair.[5]

Soon, a permanent board was conceived, and the head of the Portland General Electric Company, Henry W. Goode, became the president of the Board of Directors.[6] Others included I.N. Fleischner, First Vice-President; Oskar Huber, Director of Works; Colonel Henry E. Dosch, Director of Exhibits; Henry E. Reed, Secretary; and J.A. Wakefield, Director of Concessions and Admissions.[7] These were some of Portland’s most wealthy and powerful men, working together to create an event of unmatched grandeur and power.

[edit] Finding a Theme

Although the true motivation for the fair came from an economic and business standpoint, it was still crucial to have a theme for publicity and décor. The theme for the Portland fair came from the advice of the Oregon Historical Society. They suggested that the centennial anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s stay in Oregon would be a perfect event to commemorate. As the directors wanted to include their dreams of economic growth as well, they combined the two ideas into a title that “summed up the dual goals of historic commemoration and regional boosterism: ‘The Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair.’”[8] In addition, a motto was decided on, to focus the festivities and bolster publicity: “Westward The Course of Empire Takes Its Way.” [9]

[edit] Funding

Once a theme was set, the men began securing exhibits and getting support for their investments. Getting government backing was crucial due to the personal investments already made: “The Ladd and Tilton Bank [invested] $20,000, the Northern Pacific Railroad another USD $20,000, and brewer Henry Weinhard USD $10,000….”[10] Many of the substantial investments were from hotels (the Imperial Hotel Company purchased 50 shares worth $5,000), restaurants, streetcar companies, and retailers – all groups with much to gain from the success of the fair and the economic prosperity it could provide.[11] In addition, approximately 3,000 average citizens purchased stock certificates both as investment opportunities and to support what they viewed as a worthwhile venture. [12]

[edit] Congressional Action

Seeing the potential benefits of the fair’s success, the State Congress began planning appropriations for the fair. Although they “had [little] interest in the historical heroes and their 2,000-mile trek… they [shared] the vision of Pacific trade that had motivated the exploration and settlement of the Oregon Country.”[13] Thus, the Congress passed “An Act Celebrating the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Exploration of the Oregon Country,” which appropriated a sum of approximately $500,000 for the fair.[14] After the Fair’s completion, it was reported that

The money expended by the two departments amounted to about four hundred thousand dollars each, the State appropriating that expended by the Commission, while the stockholders of the Corporation subscribed about an equal amount. The proceeds from the Exposition were expended entirely under the direction of the Corporation. The government of the United States appropriated $475,000 and about an equal value in exhibits, the exact amounts of which I am unable to give. [15]

Thus did the fair receive the funding required to hold such an event.

The bill that appropriated the funds also created a special commission to oversee the organization of the fair. As this Commission reported: “The Lewis and Clark Exposition was held jointly, under the authorization of the act creating this Commission, by the Commission and the Lewis and Clark Exposition Corporation.”[16] First assembling on May 30, 1905, they were a committee appointed by the government with the intent of sharing the burdens of planning. On this date, they chose a President, Jefferson Myers, who “made a speech… urging hearty co-operation with the Lewis and Clark directors to bring about the best results. He later repeated these assurances of help to the directors.”[17] This seemed to go well, and their assistance helped guide the fair through the governmental hurdles inherent with the planning of such a venture.

After the closing of the fair, Henry Reed, Secretary for the Exposition Corporation, created a hefty volume documenting the whole process of planning and running the event.[18] He, too, spoke highly of the government’s involvement, and wrote that “The State of Oregon gave more solid help… to the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, than any other state of the Union has ever given to an exposition held within its borders.”[19] He was also specifically grateful for the City of Portland’s assistance, and noted that their “cordial and enthusiastic backing” was invaluable to the success of the Fair.[20] These praises of Portland were repeated by the State Commission, further supporting the city’s great assistance.[21]

[edit] The Exposition grounds

[edit] Finding a Site

After gaining the necessary financial backing (and the Commission that came with it), the Board of Directors then began the process of choosing a site on which to hold this fair. There were a number of locations considered, on both the east and west sides of the Willamette River. The three main sites on the eastern side were University Park, now the site of the University of Portland; City View Park, now Sellwood Park and Oaks Park; and Hawthorne Park, now an industrial area. The western sites considered were City Park, now Washington Park; and Guild’s Lake.[22] Guild’s Lake was a site that “everyone in Portland was vaguely aware of… [though] no one on the site selection subcommittee could remember whether it evaporated during the dry season.”[22] Inspections showed that it remained at a depth of 2.5 feet through the summer, and therefore would be an appropriate site. By the September 4, 1902, the Oregon Journal reported that “the fair officials are hot on the trail of a site and it is confidently predicted that ‘something will be doing’ shortly.”[23] The next day, they reported that the committee had narrowed its choices to “two tracts… Willamette heights on the west side and Hawthorne Park, with a portion of the Ladd tract, on the east side,” and that Willamette Heights was to be chosen, as “It is claimed that the natural advantages offered by the Willamette Heights outweigh all other considerations and that … Guild’s Lake, it is said, can be utilized to great advantage and made a scene of beauty….”[24] With this voting, “the Lewis and Clark Exposition had its site – a grove of trees, 180 acres of pasture, and 220 acres of waist-high stagnant water at the site’s center.”[25]

Guild's Lake had numerous other advantages. As the site was located on the edge of settlement in Portland, it was easily accessed by the populace. Two local trolley lines (the Portland Railway and City Suburban Railway) ran to within one block of the proposed entrance. Guild's Lake also had the advantage of being located adjacent to the recently-constructed Vaughn Street Park, a baseball stadium which would prove rather useful during the operation of the fair. The site was also accessible from the river; and steamers provided visitors a ride to the site for 10 cents. [26]

[edit] Design and Construction

Numerous individuals were involved in the design and construction of the fairgrounds and buildings. Architect John Charles Olmsted, whose uncle was Frederick Law Olmsted, was hired to develop a plan for the grounds, being paid USD $5,000. His plan took advantage of the scenic views available from the site, including Mount St. Helens and the river. Numerous other local architects, including Ion Lewis, were commissioned to design the fair's buildings; the majority of the buildings were in the style of the Spanish Renaissance, and decorated with architectural flourishes such as domes, cupolas, arched doorways and red-colored roofs. The buildings, not intended to be permanent, were largely constructed of plaster over wooden frames, which resulted in rather low construction costs (79 cents per foot).

The major exception to this the Forestry Building, a log cabin which was said to be the world's largest. It was constructed of 54 long unhewn logs, and contained inside exhibits of local forestry products, wildlife, and Native American photographs. [26] The building was 206 feet long, 102 feet wide, and 72 feet high, and cost nearly US $30,000[27]

In addition, numerous statues adorned the grounds. Several of the statues remain today, including one of Sacajawea which is now in Washington Park. Over 100 thousand light bulbs were used to outline the buildings, bridges, and statues, the result was a spectacular nighttime view. [26]

Some exhibits took up to three years to assemble.

[edit] The Exposition

The exposition opened on June 1, 1905, and ran until the middle of October, a 4 1/2 month span. It included exhibitions from 21 nations and 16 U.S. states, as well as numerous branches of the U.S. government, and private organizations.

[edit] Exhibits

The largest exhibit by a foreign nation was that of Italy, whose pavilion contained a large collection of marble statues. Germany and France also spent enormous sums on their exhibits, the former providing a replica of the drawing room of King Louis XIV. Japan spent USD $1 million (a significant sum in 1905) on its exhibit, including numerous cultural artifacts such as porcelains, silks, and lanters.

States to have exhibits at the Exposition were the following: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Each attending state was granted a day to publicize its exhibit, often attended by visiting dignitaries. [28].

There were extensive exhibits on topics such as agriculture, technology, and music. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sent an exhibit, as did the Smithsonian Institution; numerous famous artists such as Claude Monet were featured. Some of the exhibits were controversial (and by modern standards, offensive), such as an exhibit of Philippines Igorot tribespeople; displayed in order to convince the American populace of the legitimacy of the recent U.S. conquest of the Philippines, taken from Spain in the recently-concluded Spanish-American War. The exhibit included Irogots living in a simulated village, engaging in traditional activities (some of which, such as preparation and consumption of dog meat, would might be viewed as primitive to most visitors). [29]

Many exhibitors had to be turned away due to lack of space.

[edit] Other attractions

In addition to the major exhibits and pavilions, the site also featured an amusement park, various sideshows, concerts, free motion pictures (a novelty in those days), blimp excursions, and numerous vendors hawking food and other items to visitors. The site was the finish line for the nation's first transcontinental automobile race, ending on June 21, and the National Track and Field Championships were held next door at Vaughn Street Park. (Portland's baseball team, then called the "Giants", played the 1905 season at a different venue in Portland).[26]

[edit] Economic effect

The fair, by all economic measures, was a major success. Over the entire run of the fair, the box office recorded almost 1.6 million paid admissions, an average of 11,600 visitors per day. Tickets to the fair cost 50 cents for adults, a quarter for children. 40,000 visitors attended on Opening Day; 50,000 attended on the Fourth of July, and on the anniversary of Portland's incorporation, the daily attendance record of over 85,000 visitors was set. The vast majority (nearly 75%) of visitors were from the Pacific Northwest, with almost half being local residents. [30]

Unusual for such expositions, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was profitable, turning a gross profit of nearly USD $85,000. Capital investors received a 21% return on their investments. In addition, the impact on the local economy was significant. It is estimated that a million out-of-town guests came to Portland, resulting in millions of dollars (in 1905 figures) added to the economy. In addition, construction of the fairgrounds provided 1,000 construction jobs. [26]

[edit] Legacy

Very little of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition remains today. The vast majority of the structures were designed to be temporary, and were torn down the following year, in 1906. A few structures were moved elsewhere and remained in use for a long time, most famously the Forestry Building, which was reinforced with a concrete foundation and converted into a forestry museum. It burned to the ground in 1964, a replacement museum was built in Portland's Washington Park and is today known as the World Forestry Center. [31]. A few buildings from the fair remain standing today, including the Fairmont Hotel, the American Inn, and the NCR Building.[32][33]

More significantly, Guilds Lake (the picturesque lake around which the fairgrounds were built) itself is no more. The lake, a cutoff meander of the Willamette River, was slowly filled in by developers (and the Port of Portland) in the years after the fair; by the 1920s the lake had vanished entirely. [34] Over the years, the grounds have been used for a garbage incinerator, a landfill, a rail switching yard, wartime housing, and warehouses. Today the ground formerly occupied by the lake (and the fairgrounds itself) is still used for primarily industrial purposes, and has been designated an Industrial Sanctuary by the City of Portland. [35]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Piper, Edgar B, “Portland and the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition,” The American Monthly Review of Reviews 31(Apr 1905): 420-427; p. 421. Also available at <http://www.boondocksnet.com/expos/wfe_lewisclark_0504a.html> in Zwick, Jim ed., World’s Fairs and Expositions: Defining America and the World, 1876-1916; online at <http://www.boondocksnet.com/expos/index.html>
  2. ^ Reed, Henry E., “The Great West and the Two Easts” North American Review 178 (April, 1904); <http://www.boondocksnet.com/expos/wfe_1904_great_west.html> In Zwick; pp. 12-13.
  3. ^ Piper, p. 22.
  4. ^ Reed, p. 5
  5. ^ a b Abbott, Carl, The Great Extravaganza: Portland and the Lewis and Clark Exposition (Portland: Oregon Historical Society, 1981); p. 13.
  6. ^ Rydell, Robert, “Visions of Empire: International Expositions in Portland and Seattle, 1905-1909” Pacific Historical Review 52(1):37-65; p. 42.
  7. ^ Piper, p. 425; Abbott, p. 12.
  8. ^ Abbott, p. 14. This title seemed unnecessarily grandiose to some; Rydell called it “breathless” and “perhaps the most unwieldy formal name in the history of world’s fairs…” (Rydell, review of Abbott, p. 532; Rydell, Fair America, P. 57). The "Oriental Fair" portion of the title was added largely to take advantage of a tax shelter providing for trade with the Far East. The absurdity of the title caused it often to be shortened to simply “The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition.”
  9. ^ Ibid., p. 3.
  10. ^ Ibid., p. 14. Many of the original investment records and stock certificates are currently in “Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (1905, Portland, OR) Records, 1903-1905” Collection, Mss 1609, Oregon Historical Society, Portland, OR [Hereinafter referred to as “Mss 1609”].in the archives at the Oregon Historical Society, Portland Oregon.
  11. ^ The OHS manuscripts (Mss 1609, Box 27, Folder 16) have a few original certificates remaining, including 500 purchased by Portland General Electric and 50 purchased by the John Deere Plow Company. As the fair was a grand unveiling of electric power on a large scale, PGE had much to gain from the success of the fair; John Deere, meanwhile, provided a number of items for exhibition and sale. Thus, both companies followed the trend of investing in that which could provide them with much success and profit.
  12. ^ Abbott, p. 14. These individual investments eventually paid off greatly, as discussed later. Other certificates are available in Mss 1609, Box 27, Folder 16.
  13. ^ Ibid, p. 16.
  14. ^ “Report of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission,” Mss 1609, Box 27, Folder 6, p. 5.
  15. ^ Ibid., p. 13.
  16. ^ “Report,” p. 13.
  17. ^ “To Work Again,” The Oregonian Vol. 42, No. 13,250 (May 30, 1903), p. 1.
  18. ^ Reed, Henry, History of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (Unpublished, available at the OHS under the Call Number of Mss 383B). This book was filled with clippings of editorials Reed wrote, pictures of most all people involved and the buildings, and a running commentary on the planning of the Fair. Interestingly, this highly useful and informative volume has never been published. Only one copy exists deep within the OHS archives, but is a worthwhile item to study.
  19. ^ Ibid., p. 97. Reed does also mention, however, that the Commission was often very controlling, overstepping their boundaries and meddling in the affairs of the Corporation, being more of a hindrance than a help. When this testimony is compared with others (most of which offered a favorable opinion), though, Reed’s statements can be largely attributed to a personal bias. Reed was, after all, the Secretary of the Corporation, holding a position of considerable power. The Commission was created with little or no input from the Corporation. Reed must have felt slightly jilted by this creation of a group “usurping” his power, and this came through in his narrative. All in all, though, the effects of the Commission were overwhelmingly positive, helping guide the Fair to its successful end.
  20. ^ Ibid., p. 350.
  21. ^ “Report…” p. 6.
  22. ^ a b Abbott, p. 20.
  23. ^ Oregon Journal, Vol. 1, No. 153 (September 4, 1902), p. 2.
  24. ^ “Site of the Fair” Oregon Journal, Vol. 1, No. 154 (September 5, 1902), p. 1.
  25. ^ Abbott, pp. 20-21.
  26. ^ a b c d e
  27. ^ http://www.history.pdx.edu/guildslake/thefair/forestry1.htm Portland State University Department of History: 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition: The World's Largest Log Cabin
  28. ^ Portland State University Department of History: 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition
  29. ^ Portland State University Department of History: 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition: Filipinos at the Fair
  30. ^ Abbott. (34% from Portland, 40% from other parts of Oregon and Washington; 16% from elsewhere in the western U.S., and 10% from east of the Rockies or from abroad.
  31. ^ http://www.history.pdx.edu/guildslake/thefair/forestry2.htm PSU History Department: 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition: The World's Largest Log Cabin
  32. ^ http://www.history.pdx.edu/guildslake/thefair/remnants.htm PSU History Department: 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition: The Historic Fairmount Hotel
  33. ^ http://www.history.pdx.edu/guildslake/thefair/remnants2.htm PSU History Department: 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition: The American Inn and National Cash Register Buildings
  34. ^ http://www.iinet.com/~englishriver/LewisClarkColumbiaRiver/Regions/Places/lewis_clark_1905_exposition.html The Columbia River: A Photographic Journey. Lewis and Clark 1905 Exposition, Portland OR
  35. ^ http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ohq/107.1/dibling.html Karin Dibling, Julie Kay Martin, Meghan Stone Olson and Gayle Webb. "Guild's Lake Industrial District:The Process of Change over Time" Oregon Historical Quarterly

[edit] External links

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