The year of 1851 was the first among 150 years of World's Fairs that took the world of tourism, both domestic and abroad, by storm. With over thirty recognizable World's Fairs that have taken place over time, The Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exhibition and Oriental Fair in Portland, Oregon, was just one out of many influential and memorable fairs throughout history. Although it may not seem very significant, Portland World's Fair, held in 1905, and had a large influence on the movement of emphasis from the eastern coast to the western coast of the United States. Portland, among other cities, was competing to become the most successful on the western coast. World's Fairs are argued to have different impacts and benefits. To some historians, World's Fairs seem to economically benefit a city, while others would say they highlight a city's latest innovations and technological advances. For Portland, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was used as a tactic to begin to shine the spotlight on the skills and successes of the Northwest, rather than the east. Because the Fair was the first in the Pacific Northwest, it gave Oregon a chance for attention.
[...] Harry Murphy felt the success and impact the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition did just as he had hoped and that it would allow the people of Portland to carry a legacy that could someday travel to generations to come. The president of the Fair, H. W. Goode, complimented Portlanders and all Oregonians of their great support of the Exposition that helped to make it a great success. The closing day of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was that of amazing proportions. [...]
[...] As planning and ideas progressed, Roosevelt proudly stated: Centennial of our establishment upon the western coast by the expedition of Lewis and Clark is to be celebrated at Portland, Oregon, by an exposition in the summer of 1905, and this event should receive recognition and support from the national government.”8 He felt that it was important to gain the northwest recognition for its strengths, assets and growth. Portland was, and is today, located on the Columbia Basin, where agriculture flourished and international trade was sure to grow. [...]
[...] The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition came to a close after the midnight celebration festivities on October The four months of successful exhibition brought an enormous total attendance of 2,545,509, with an average daily attendance of 19,244 visitors.24 With the total stock subscriptions purchased for the exposition totaling $ and the profits made from admissions, concessions, and other various sources of revenue totaling $ the total profit added to $ for the exposition.25 The expenditures added to a total of $ as of the morning before closing day opened for business, leaving a total income of $ This did not include the successful income that was collected from the closing day admissions; it was estimated the final sum of overall income came to about $ The expenditures of the Fair included “costs of building, payrolls, music, special events and attractions.”28 Music was one of the heaviest expenses considering there were two full brass bands that performed on a daily basis at the Fair; these bands were considered best obtainable in America.”29 Although the Fair's deficit that resulted from the various fair costs was still standing on the opening day of July experts had no doubt after observing the profits of the first month that the Fair was sure to be a financial victory. [...]
[...] Portland railroad companies were happy to help advertise for the Lewis and Clark Exposition.53 According to Abbott, the majority of the visitors were more upper class families, whose husbands could afford to take their family on a tourist vacation for weeks at a time. It was hoped, especially by the civic backers of the exposition that the fair would encourage the city of Portland to grow in terms of population. Within one decade, Portland received that exact hope; it grew 50 percent in population.54 Tourists both from within the country hosting the Fair and many even from abroad were present. [...]
[...] Leeds, State Printer Footnotes 1Carl Abbott, The Great Extravaganza: Portland and the Lewis and Clark Exposition, 3rd ed. (Portland: Oregon Historical Society, 2004), xii. 2Ibid., xxiii. 3Randy Gragg, “Great Expectations" The Oregonian (2005), http://www.infoweb.newsbank.com/ (accessed January 26, 2007). 4Abbott 5Ibid. 6Abbott, 13-14. 7Abbott 8Lewis and Clark Journal January 1904, Lewis and Clark Exposition Publications, MSS 1609, box 98/8, Oregon Historical Society Research Library, 14-15. 9Abbott and 24. 10.Erik Mattie, World's Fairs (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1998), 11.Erik Mattie, World's Fairs (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1998) 12Mattie 13Randy Gragg. [...]
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