Recommended 1904 World’s Fair Links
(Temporarily Down)The 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair — by Society President, Mike Truax. This website has recently undergone a major upgrade (October 2009) with lots of new information. Provides much information, pictures and links to many sources of information about the Fair. Foods, myths, legends, and memorabillia are explored. Mike has recently updated his “Links page to include many more websites with information about the Fair.
Explore a map of the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis — The Missouri History Museum produced this overlay map in 1996 to show the locations of attractions at the World’s Fair as they would appear today in and near Forest Park. The fairgrounds used roughly the western half of the park and the neighborhoods and campus of Washington University west of present-day Skinker Boulevard, out to present-day Big Bend. To the south of today’s Lindell Boulevard, where the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course is now, were many of the large exhibition halls. To the north of Lindell and west of DeBaliviere Avenue, where so many mansions are now, was the Pike, a midway of concessions, rides and other attractions. The 264-foot Ferris Wheel was just southeast of present-day Skinker and Forsyth boulevards. Some things are easy to match, such as Art Hill and the Grand Basin, even though the basin lake was larger then than it is today. Click on a numbered map marker to begin exploring the World’s Fair.
The Official Guide to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition — This was the only “Official Guide” to the exposition. It is an original 1904 book of 200 pages which has been digitized. It contains an accurate and thorough survey of the World’s Fairgrounds with detailed descriptions of all the exhibit Palaces, Foreign Pavilions, and State and Territorial buildings. Also included is a wealth of information a visitor to St. Louis and the Fair in 1904 needed to know. A MUST READ, (or at least browsed), for all Fair enthusiasts. . A linkable index of the book can be found by clicking this link.
World’s Fair souvenir of the Engineers’ Club of Saint Louis, 1904 – A book published by the Engineers’ Club in 1913 containing a wealth of technical information and facts about the Fair. This book has been reproduced and reprinted. It is available from several sources for about $20. However, you can click on the link and read it on Google Books.
St. Louis Olympics 1904 — St. Louis Olympics, 1904 corrects common misperceptions and presents a fresh view of the games that featured first-time African American Olympians, an eccentric marathon, and documentation by pioneering photojournalist Jessie Tarbox Beals. You can read the book by clicking on the link.
Official Daily Program. A program of the events of the day was published on a daily basis for Fair visitors. The program for “Thursday, June 16th 1904” is show here as an example of what types of events were held daily at the Fair.
At the Fair-1904 World’s Fair – A website developed in 2008 containing a lot of information about the 1904 World’s Fair. The author has done a wealth of research on the facts and legends of the Fair.
(NEW) 1904 World’s Fair Negative Collection Extensive glass plate negative collection.
(NEW)1904 World’s Fair Bulletins UM digitized collection of Worlds Fair Bulletins
1904 World’s Fair Tour A Virtual tour of the Fair.
Agricultural Events at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair — by Dr. Lyndon Irwin. The name says it all. Also includes a good description and picture of the “Floral Clock”
1904 World’s Fair page at Washington Mo.com Provides “Official views of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition”. Many good pictures with descriptions of buildings and plazas.
Beyond the Ice Cream Cone –by Society member Pam Vaccaro. Beyond the Ice Cream Cone is an in-depth look at the history of food at one of the 20th century’s most awe-inspiring events, the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.Legacies of the St. Louis World’s Fair –by Bert Minkin. 100 pages, Virginia Publishing, October 1, 1998.
A compilation of articles on the 1904 World’s Fair written by Bert Minkin, that were printed in local St. Louis Newspapers (Suburban Journals). Published in conjunction with (and available from) the 1904 World’s Fair Society.
Still Shining! Discovering Lost Treasures from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair— by Society Member Diane Rademacher. The author’s 20 year hobby has tracked down the present location of many of the 1904 World’s Fair buildings and structures
Postcards of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition — by Dave Lossos Many postcards sold at the Fair showing Fair scenes are shown.
Missouri Historical Society — Currently has exhibit of the 1904 World’s Fair on display.