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From the Palaces to the Pike
Visions of the 1904 World's Fair
By Martha R. Clevenger |  |
Reviewed by Mike Truax
“From Palaces to the Pike” is an exceptional book for people who want to learn and see a lot of information about the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, which was the largest of the many U.S. and international Victorian-era expositions by far. Lavishly illustrated with superb pictures from the collections of the Missouri Historical Society (MHS) and printed on high-quality paper, this book's 260 pages provide the reader a both a history and complete 'visual tour' of the Fair.
Published in 1997 by the Missouri Historical Society Press, “From Palaces to the Pike” sells for about $35 in softcover and about $60 for hardcover. It is available at most major bookstores (in the "local interest" section of St. Louis bookstores) and on the Internet (www.amazon.com discounts ~20%, plus s/h). It is also is available at the Missouri Historical Society’s museum and gift shop in Forest Park, St. Louis, which was the site of the 1904 Fair.
Mr. Fox was a former editor of the MHS quarterly magazine "Gateway Heritage", and Mr. Sneddeker was the MHS curator of photographs and prints.
In their own words, the authors attempted "to recreate, in words and pictures, the visual and emotional impact of the 1904 World's Fair". They've been eminently successful! Using their historical knowledge, thorough research, and ready access to vintage photographs and records, they've created the best contemporary book about the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, as the 1904 Fair was also called.
The large format of “From Palaces to the Pike” (10 1/2" by 13 ") allows the printing of many large, wide-view, and detailed photographs. It outshines even the several large 'official photograph books' printed nearly a century ago as fair souvenirs and records. This book contains a terrific amount information, and a great number high quality photographs not available.
The authors begin each of the 21 chapters in the book with a large picture that covers nearly two full facing pages about the chapter's topic (typically a building or part of the fair). A few 'visual excerpts' from the large picture are typically included. The 'excerpts' help to either put the introductory picture into a larger perspective, or to highlight details of the large picture, pointing out aspects not initially readily grasped. A page or two of text then follows to describe the building and its contents. Finally, several more pictures and captions provide the details to fill out the chapter.
The introduction (30+ pages) tells the story of the transformation of the "Wilderness", as Forest Park was then called, into the 1904 World's Fair. It tells how the fair was awarded to St. Louis, the acquisition and transformation of the land, the gathering of the myriad of exhibits, and the construction of the many palaces, pavilions, and buildings.
The first chapter covers Opening Day, which was delayed from the 1903 'anniversary of the purchase' to the 1904 'anniversary of the transfer' of the territory. The 200,000 visitors on Opening Day did not seem to mind the delay, as the extra time had allowed for the expansion of the fairgrounds, the complete construction of the fair buildings, and the gathering of exhibits from all over the world. The 12 major 'palaces', 40+ state buildings, and many country pavilions provided a visitor with more than could be absorbed in a week of touring the site.
Chapter two displays the major centerpieces of the fair: Festival Hall, with a dome larger than St. Peter's in Rome and housing the world's largest organ; the Cascades, a triple waterfall converging on the Grand Basin; and the Colonnade of States, honoring the 13 states and one territory (Indian Territory, later to become part of Oklahoma) that were created from the Louisiana Purchase.
The next 11 chapters describe the major palaces and buildings. The exterior pictures show the exquisite details of construction as well as the visitors at the fair. The interior photos display many of the exhibits inside the buildings, from the small exhibit booths to major corporate and state exhibits. Examples include Missouri's multiple-story 'Corn Palace' made entirely from corn, new scientific inventions and discoveries, and acres and acres of cars and train locomotives in the Palace of Transportation.
Some of the buildings and facilities built by the forty-two states (or states-to-be) that constructed buildings at the fair are shown the next chapter. They included modest, home-sized buildings, replicas of historical state buildings like Louisiana's Cabildo and Virginia's Monticello, the 9-story Washington state 'wigwam' built around 6 large timbers, and the enormous Missouri state building, destroyed by fire 2 weeks before the fair closed. Many states also constructed pavilions inside the major palaces to display the state's products and features, from nature to food to manufacturing. The state facilities advertised that state's features to the world, and also served as centers for welcoming (and rest) of their residents visiting the fair.
We then visit some of the twenty-one countries that constructed buildings at the fair. Germany's reproduction of the Palace of Charlottenburg was given a prime location near the Grand Basin, while Great Britain's reproduction of the Orangery and Belgium's striking, muraled building were among the largest of foreign buildings. Many buildings were built in the Japanese Garden area, located right next to the giant Ferris Wheel. Exhibits included famous paintings, exquisite tapestries, and other arts from around the world.
The 47-acre Philippine Reservation was a fair unto itself. Acquired by the United States in the Spanish-American war of 1898, the over 100 buildings and native style structures served as home to many varied Filipino tribes during the fair's 7 months. Replicas of the Bridge of Spain and the Walled City of Manila were built, but fair visitors were amazed to see the Philippine natives living, dressing, and eating their 'normal' food in their natural environments. The Philippine exhibit was part of the larger Department of Anthropology, which also included natives from South America and Japan, African pygmies, and American Indians of many tribes. Fairgoers interacted with natives from all over the world, in an attempt to show the 'ascent of man', from backward 'savages' to the current Victorian 'civilization'.
The final few chapters tell us about other general topics and vistas at the fair. They depict special fair events (like the Liberty Bell's coming to the fair), the daily parades and concerts, the 1904 Olympics, the Pike's numerous and titillating attractions and restaurants, 'people' of the fair, and, finally, several magnificent vistas of the fair.
Vintage souvenir books from the fair (both large and small) contain photographs largely common to each other--standard, formal photographs of the fair's buildings, exhibits, or people on display. They rarely show 'visitors' around the buildings and interacting with the exhibits and displays. I suspect that this is mainly because only a few photographers were allowed to take the 'official' pictures of the fair, and they took primarily formal, official pictures for publication and sale.
The pictures selected for “From Palaces to the Pike”, on the other hand, show the kind of pictures that typical visitors would take: people at the fair, soldiers marching, and various panoramic views of the fair, complete with clouds, people, crowds, etc. They show the scale of the fair, the grandeur, and some sense of the magic of the fairgrounds. These many uncommon photographs give the reader an excellent and informative journey through the Fair.
I finished the book with a nostalgic wish that I could actually visit and tour the fair--the superb black and white pictures gave me a great 'peek' into the fair, but I wanted to see it all and in person!
This extensive work is by far the best and most complete contemporary publication available about the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. It gives readers a genuine sense and epic view of what took place in 1904 St. Louis, in Forest Park, "From Palaces to the Pike". |
