{"history":[],"article":{"id":"7713b974-6307-4526-95a0-4c01c8b08121","title":"Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition","slug":"lewis-and-clark-centennial-exposition","content":":::summary\n![Balloon over Guild's Lake at the Expo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Lewis///and///Clark///Expo///Portland///Oregon///ballon///at///entrance.jpg)\n**Title:** Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition \n**Headerstyle:** background:#ccf; \n**Labelstyle:** background:#ddf; \n**Header 1:** Official name \n**Data 2:** Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair \n**Header 3:** Details \n**Label 4:** Dates \n**Data 4:** June 1, 1905 to October 14, 1905 \n**Label 6:** Location \n**Data 6:** [Portland, Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-oregon), USA \n**Label 7:** Coordinates \n**Data 7:** 45.53781°N, -122.70734°W \n**Label 8:** Attendance \n**Data 8:** 2,554,000 \n**Label 9:** Theme \n**Data 9:** [Lewis and Clark Expedition](https://bliptext.com/articles/lewis-and-clark-expedition) \n**Label 1 0:** Motto \n**Data 1 0:** Westward The Course of Empire Takes Its Way \n**Label 1 1:** map \n**Data 1 1:** Map web lg.jpg \n:::\n\n# \nThe **Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition**, commonly also known as the **Lewis and Clark Exposition**, and officially known as the **Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair**, was a worldwide [exposition](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-s-fair) held in [Portland, Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-oregon), [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) in 1905 to celebrate the centennial of the [Lewis and Clark Expedition](https://bliptext.com/articles/lewis-and-clark-expedition).\nWhile not officially considered a [World's Fair](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-s-fair) by the [Bureau of International Expositions](https://bliptext.com/articles/bureau-of-international-expositions), it is often informally described as such; the exposition attracted both exhibits and visitors from around the world.\nDuring the exposition's four-month run, it attracted over 1.6 million visitors, and featured exhibits from 21 countries.\nPortland grew from 161,000 to 270,000 residents between 1905 and 1910, a spurt that has been attributed to the exposition.\n\n# Preparations\n\n## Early Oregon\nSince its founding in 1845, Portland had evolved into a major economic center, largely fueled by the arrival of the railroads.\nThree transcontinental railroads used Portland as their Pacific coast terminus – the Northern, Southern, and [Union Pacific Railroads](https://bliptext.com/articles/union-pacific-railroad).\nMeanwhile, Portland's wheat and flour industries were growing at an amazing rate, and Portland held \"the largest flour mill on the Pacific coast.\"\nThe 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 ...\"\nOregon's shipping was growing, too, fueled by a $1.5 million project to dike and dredge the [Columbia River](https://bliptext.com/articles/columbia-river).\nDuring this time, Oregon's population grew from 13,294 in 1850 to 413,536 in 1900, a 3,000-percent growth, compared to the 1000-percent growth of the nation as a whole.\nDespite all these positive factors, though, Oregon was not unaffected by the nationwide [Long Depression](https://bliptext.com/articles/long-depression), which had particular effect in 1893.\nJobs were lost across the country as railroads grew too fast on a weak banking system and agricultural values fell.\nThe state's elite business leaders all attempted to devise plans to boost the economy.\nDan 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.\"\nSince the area's focus was on other issues, his proposal went unnoticed for a few years.\nThe idea of a fair came up again occasionally, but no concentrated effort was made for various reasons.\nIt 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.\nSoon, a permanent board was conceived, and the head of the [Portland General Electric](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-general-electric) Company, Henry W. Goode, became the president of the Board of Directors.\nOthers included I. N. Fleischner, First Vice-President; Oskar Huber, Director of Works; Colonel [Henry E. Dosch](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-e-dosch), Director of Exhibits; Henry E. Reed, Secretary; and J. A. Wakefield, Director of Concessions and Admissions.\nThese were some of Portland's most wealthy and powerful men, working together to create an event of unmatched grandeur and power.\n\n## Finding a theme\nAlthough 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.\nThe theme for the Portland fair came from the advice of the [Oregon Historical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon-historical-society).\nThey suggested that the centennial anniversary of the [Lewis and Clark Expedition](https://bliptext.com/articles/lewis-and-clark-expedition)'s stay in Oregon would be a perfect event to commemorate.\nAs 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.'\" In addition, a motto was decided on, to focus the festivities and bolster publicity: \"Westward The Course of Empire Takes Its Way.\"\n# [Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Lewis///and///clark-expedition.jpg]\n\n## Funding\nOnce a theme was set, the men began securing exhibits and getting support for their investments.\nGetting government backing was crucial due to the personal investments already made: \"The Ladd and Tilton Bank [invested] $20,000, the [Northern Pacific Railroad](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-pacific-railroad) another $20,000, and brewer [Henry Weinhard](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-weinhard) $10,000.\"\nMany 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.\nIn addition, approximately 3,000 average citizens purchased stock certificates both as investment opportunities and to support what they viewed as a worthwhile venture.\nThese individual investments eventually paid off greatly.\n\n## Political action\nSeeing the potential benefits of the fair's success, the [state legislature](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon-legislative-assembly) began planning appropriations for the fair.\nAlthough they \"had [little] interest in the historical heroes and their 2000 mi trek ... they [shared] the vision of Pacific trade that had motivated the exploration and settlement of the Oregon Country.\"\nThus, the Legislature 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.\nAfter the Fair's completion, it was reported that\n\"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.\"\nThus the fair received funding to hold the exposition.\nThe bill that appropriated the funds also created a special commission to oversee the organization of the fair.\nAs 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.\"\nFirst assembling on May 30, 1903, they were a committee appointed by the government with the intent of sharing the burdens of planning.\nOn this date, they chose a president, [Jefferson Myers](https://bliptext.com/articles/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.\"\nThis seemed to go well, and their assistance helped guide the fair through the governmental hurdles inherent with the planning of such a venture.\nAfter 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.\nHe, 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.\"\nHe 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.\nThese praises of Portland were repeated by the State Commission, further supporting the city's great assistance.\n\n# Exposition grounds\n# [Overview of the grounds | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Lewis-clark-expo-then-web.jpg]\n\n## Finding a site\nAfter 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.\nThere were a number of locations considered, on both the east and west sides of the Willamette River.\nThe three main sites on the eastern side were University Park, now the site of the [University of Portland](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-portland); City View Park, now Sellwood Park and [Oaks Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/oaks-amusement-park); and Hawthorne Park, now an industrial area.\nThe western sites considered were City Park, now [Washington Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-park-portland-oregon); and [Guild's Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/guild-s-lake) in the [Balch Creek](https://bliptext.com/articles/balch-creek) watershed.\nGuild's Lake was a site \"everyone in Portland was vaguely aware of ... [though] no one on the site selection subcommittee could remember whether it evaporated during the dry season.\"\nInspections showed it remained at a depth of 2.5 ft through the summer, and therefore would be an appropriate site.\nBy September 4, 1902, the [Oregon Journal](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon-journal) reported: \"the fair officials are hot on the trail of a site and it is confidently predicted that 'something will be doing' shortly.\"\nThe next day, they reported the committee 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](https://bliptext.com/articles/willamette-heights) was to be chosen, as \"It is claimed that the natural advantages offered by the [Willamette Heights](https://bliptext.com/articles/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.\"\nWith this voting, \"the Lewis and Clark Exposition had its site – a grove of trees, 180 acre of pasture, and 220 acre of waist-high stagnant water at the site's center.\"\nGuild's Lake had numerous other advantages.\nAs the site was located on the edge of settlement in Portland, it was easily accessed by the populace.\nTwo local [trolley](https://bliptext.com/articles/tram) lines (the Portland Railway and City Suburban Railway) ran to within one block of the proposed entrance.\nGuild's Lake also had the advantage of being located adjacent to the recently constructed [Vaughn Street Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/vaughn-street-park), a [baseball](https://bliptext.com/articles/baseball) stadium that would prove rather useful during the operation of the fair.\nThe site was also accessible from the river, and [steamers](https://bliptext.com/articles/steamboat) provided visitors a ride to the site for 10 cents.\nThe site was sold for private development prior to the fair and was leased back to the city for the event.\n# [The four people most responsible for the exposition, per Joseph Gaston:\n

Henry W. Corbett
Lewis B. Cox
Henry E. Dosch
Henry L. Pittock

| upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/The///four///men///who///made///the///Lewis///and///Clark///Exposition///a///possibility.png]\n\n## Design and construction\nNumerous individuals were involved in the design and construction of the fairgrounds and buildings.\nThe [Olmsted Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/olmsted-brothers) design firm was hired to develop a plan for the grounds, for $5,000.\nThe plan designed by [John Charles Olmsted](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-charles-olmsted) took advantage of the scenic views available from the site, including [Mount St. Helens](https://bliptext.com/articles/mount-st-helens) and the river.\n(Olmsted also developed a [plan for Portland's park system](https://bliptext.com/articles/olmsted-portland-park-plan) during the same visit.)\n[Ion Lewis](https://bliptext.com/articles/ion-lewis), of the firm [Whidden & Lewis](https://bliptext.com/articles/whidden-lewis), supervised a board of seven architects responsible for designing the fair's buildings.\nThe six other architects were [Edgar M. Lazarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/edgar-m-lazarus), [Emil Schacht](https://bliptext.com/articles/emil-schacht), [Justus F. Krumbein](https://bliptext.com/articles/justus-f-krumbein), [David C. Lewis](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-chambers-lewis), [Richard Martin, Jr.](https://bliptext.com/articles/richard-martin-jr), and [Henry J. Hefty](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-j-hefty).\nThe majority of the buildings were in the style of the [Spanish Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-renaissance) and decorated with architectural flourishes such as [domes](https://bliptext.com/articles/dome), [cupolas](https://bliptext.com/articles/cupola), arched doorways and red-colored roofs.\nThe buildings, not intended to be permanent, were largely constructed of [plaster](https://bliptext.com/articles/plaster) over wooden frames, which resulted in rather low construction costs (79 cents per foot).\nThe major exception to this was the Forestry Building, a [log cabin](https://bliptext.com/articles/log-cabin) which was said to be the world's largest.\nIt was constructed of 54 long unhewn logs, and contained exhibits of local forestry products, wildlife, and [Native American](https://bliptext.com/articles/native-americans-in-the-united-states) photographs.\nThe building was 206 ft long, 102 ft wide, and 72 ft high (63 m x 31m x 22m), and cost nearly $30,000 The building stood until destroyed by fire in 1964 and inspired the [Western Forestry Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-forestry-center) as a replacement.\nIt also inspired the lobby of the [Glacier Park Lodge](https://bliptext.com/articles/glacier-park-lodge) in Montana.\nThe fair was lit up by night with [incandescent lights](https://bliptext.com/articles/incandescent-light-bulb), as well as large [searchlights](https://bliptext.com/articles/searchlight) on the Government Building.\nThese were designed by [Thomas H. Wright](https://bliptext.com/articles/thomas-h-wright), working for [Portland General Electric](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-general-electric).\nIn addition, numerous [statues](https://bliptext.com/articles/statue) adorned the grounds.\nSeveral of the statues remain today, including [Alice Cooper](https://bliptext.com/articles/alice-cooper-sculptor)'s [Sacajawea and Jean-Baptiste](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacajawea-and-jean-baptiste) which now stands in Washington Park.\nOver 100 thousand light bulbs were used to outline the buildings, bridges, and statues; the result was a spectacular nighttime view.\nSome exhibits took up to three years to assemble.\n# [Groundbreaking ceremony of the Expo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/LewisandClarkExpoGroundbreaking.jpg]\n\n# Exposition\nThe exposition opened on June 1, 1905, and ran until October 15, 1905, a four and a half month span.\nIt included exhibitions from 21 nations and 16 U.S. states, as well as numerous branches of the federal government, and private organizations.\nThe [Multnomah Athletic Club](https://bliptext.com/articles/multnomah-athletic-club), an amateur club from [Portland, Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-oregon), assisted in organizing the Lewis and Clark Athletic Games and Championship Contests.\n\n## Exhibits\nThe largest exhibit by a foreign nation was [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy)'s, whose pavilion contained a large collection of marble statues.\n[Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) and [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) also spent enormous sums on their exhibits, the latter providing a replica of the drawing room of [King Louis XIV](https://bliptext.com/articles/king-louis-xiv).\n[Japan](https://bliptext.com/articles/japan) spent $1 million (a significant sum in 1905) on its exhibit, including numerous cultural artifacts such as porcelains, silks, and lanterns.\nStates with exhibits at the exposition were: [Alaska](https://bliptext.com/articles/alaska), [Arizona](https://bliptext.com/articles/arizona), [California](https://bliptext.com/articles/california), [Colorado](https://bliptext.com/articles/colorado), [Idaho](https://bliptext.com/articles/idaho), [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois), [Louisiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/louisiana), [Maine](https://bliptext.com/articles/maine), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts), [Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/missouri), [Montana](https://bliptext.com/articles/montana), [Nebraska](https://bliptext.com/articles/nebraska), [New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state), [North Dakota](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-dakota), [Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon), [Oklahoma](https://bliptext.com/articles/oklahoma), [Utah](https://bliptext.com/articles/utah), [Washington](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-state), and [Wyoming](https://bliptext.com/articles/wyoming).\nEach attending state was granted a day to publicize its exhibit, often attended by visiting dignitaries.\nThere were extensive exhibits on topics such as agriculture, technology, and music.\nThe [Mormon Tabernacle Choir](https://bliptext.com/articles/mormon-tabernacle-choir) sent an exhibit, as did the [Smithsonian Institution](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-institution); numerous famous artists such as [Claude Monet](https://bliptext.com/articles/claude-monet) were featured.\nSome of the exhibits were controversial (and by modern standards, offensive), such as an exhibit of [Philippines](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippines) [Igorot](https://bliptext.com/articles/igorot) tribespeople; displayed in order to convince the American populace of the legitimacy of the recent U.S. conquest of the [Philippines](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippines), taken from [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) in the recently concluded [Spanish–American War](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-american-war).\nThe exhibit included Igorots living in a simulated village, engaging in traditional activities.\nSome of these activities, such as preparation and consumption of [dog meat](https://bliptext.com/articles/dog-meat), would be viewed as primitive to most visitors.\nMany exhibitors had to be turned away due to lack of space.\n# [The Prune Bear from the Sacramento Valley | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Lewis///and///Clark///Expo///Portland///Oregon///prune///bear.jpg]\n# [Inside of the Forestry Building | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Forestry///Building///Lewis///Clark///Expo///interior///1905.jpg]\n\n## Other attractions\nIn addition to the major exhibits and pavilions, the site also featured an [amusement park](https://bliptext.com/articles/amusement-park), various [sideshows](https://bliptext.com/articles/sideshow), concerts, free [motion pictures](https://bliptext.com/articles/motion-picture) (a novelty in those days), [blimp](https://bliptext.com/articles/blimp) excursions, and numerous vendors selling food and other items.\nThe site was the finish line for a transcontinental automobile race (\"[Hell Gate](https://bliptext.com/articles/hell-gate) to Portland\") by two drivers sponsored by [Olds Motor Works](https://bliptext.com/articles/olds-motor-works).\nThe [Amateur Athletic Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/amateur-athletic-union)'s National Track and Field Championships were held in Portland at [Vaughn Street Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/vaughn-street-park).\nPortland's [Pacific Coast League](https://bliptext.com/articles/pacific-coast-league) baseball team, known then as [the \"Giants\"](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-beavers), played the 1905 season at a different venue in Portland.\nThe Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club organized a cricket match at the fair between the Portland Cricket Club founded in 1876 and the Victoria Cricket Club founded in 1852.\nConsequently, the Pacific Coast tournament was played in Victoria until 1914.\n(David Sentance US Cricket Historian & author of Cricket in America 1710-2000)\n\n## Economic effect\nThe fair, by all economic measures, was a major success.\nOver the entire run of the fair, the box office recorded almost 1.6 million paid admissions, an average of 11,600 visitors per day.\nTickets to the fair cost 50 cents for adults, a quarter for children.\nForty-thousand visitors attended on the opening day; 50,000 attended on the [Fourth of July](https://bliptext.com/articles/fourth-of-july), and on the anniversary of Portland's incorporation, the daily attendance record of over 85,000 visitors was set.\nThe vast majority (nearly 75%) of visitors were from the Pacific Northwest, with almost half being local residents.\nIn all 2,554,000 people visited the exposition, with 966,000 getting in for free and 1,588,000 paying visitors.\n135,000 visitors were from east of the [Mississippi River](https://bliptext.com/articles/mississippi-river).\nUnusual for such expositions, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was profitable, turning a gross profit of nearly $85,000.\nCapital investors received a 21% return on their investments.\nIn addition, the impact on the local economy was significant.\nIt is estimated a million out-of-town guests came to Portland, resulting in millions of dollars (in 1905 figures) added to the economy.\nIn addition, construction of the fairgrounds provided 1,000 construction jobs.\n\n# Legacy\nVery little of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition remains today.\nThe vast majority of the structures were designed to be temporary and were torn down the following year, in 1906.\nA 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.\nIt burned to the ground in August 1964.\nA replacement museum was built in Portland's [Washington Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-park-portland-oregon) and is today known as the [World Forestry Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-forestry-center).\nA few buildings from the fair remain standing today, including the [Fairmount Hotel](https://bliptext.com/articles/fairmount-hotel-portland-oregon), the [American Inn](https://bliptext.com/articles/american-inn), and the [National Cash Register Building](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-cash-register-building) (now the [McMenamins](https://bliptext.com/articles/mcmenamins) St. Johns Theater and Pub).\nAbout half a million pink hybrid tea rose bushes, all \"Mme Caroline Testout,\" were planted along the streets of Portland for the Lewis and Clark Exposition.\nMany of these remain today.\nMany people moved to Portland following the fair, which is why many houses around Portland were built in the years that followed.\nThere were also many street paving and sidewalk projects in the years that followed the fair, and many of the sidewalks in Portland (East Portland especially) are dated from 1910 to 1920.\n[Guild's Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/guild-s-lake), a cutoff [meander](https://bliptext.com/articles/meander) of the Willamette River around which the fairgrounds were built, was slowly filled in by industrial developers (and the [Port of Portland](https://bliptext.com/articles/port-of-portland-oregon)) in the years after the fair; by the 1920s the lake had vanished entirely.\nOver the years, the grounds have been used for a garbage [incinerator](https://bliptext.com/articles/incinerator), a [landfill](https://bliptext.com/articles/landfill), a [rail switching yard](https://bliptext.com/articles/railyard), wartime housing, and warehouses.\nToday 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.\n# [Forestry Building in about 1905 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Forestry///Building///at///Lewis///and///Clark///Exposition.JPG]","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T21:46:03.336Z","updated_at":"2025-01-25T21:46:03.336Z","search_vector":"'centenni':4 'clark':3 'exposit':5 'lewi':1","search_content":" \n \n**Title:** Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition \n**Headerstyle:** background:#ccf; \n**Labelstyle:** background:#ddf; \n**Header 1:** Official name \n**Data 2:** Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair \n**Header 3:** Details \n**Label 4:** Dates \n**Data 4:** June 1, 1905 to October 14, 1905 \n**Label 6:** Location \n**Data 6:** [Portland, Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-oregon), USA \n**Label 7:** Coordinates \n**Data 7:** 45.53781°N, -122.70734°W \n**Label 8:** Attendance \n**Data 8:** 2,554,000 \n**Label 9:** Theme \n**Data 9:** [Lewis and Clark Expedition](https://bliptext.com/articles/lewis-and-clark-expedition) \n**Label 1 0:** Motto \n**Data 1 0:** Westward The Course of Empire Takes Its Way \n**Label 1 1:** map \n**Data 1 1:** Map web lg.jpg \n \n\n# \nThe **Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition**, commonly also known as the **Lewis and Clark Exposition**, and officially known as the **Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair**, was a worldwide [exposition](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-s-fair) held in [Portland, Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-oregon), [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) in 1905 to celebrate the centennial of the [Lewis and Clark Expedition](https://bliptext.com/articles/lewis-and-clark-expedition).\nWhile not officially considered a [World's Fair](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-s-fair) by the [Bureau of International Expositions](https://bliptext.com/articles/bureau-of-international-expositions), it is often informally described as such; the exposition attracted both exhibits and visitors from around the world.\nDuring the exposition's four-month run, it attracted over 1.6 million visitors, and featured exhibits from 21 countries.\nPortland grew from 161,000 to 270,000 residents between 1905 and 1910, a spurt that has been attributed to the exposition.\n\n# Preparations\n\n## Early Oregon\nSince its founding in 1845, Portland had evolved into a major economic center, largely fueled by the arrival of the railroads.\nThree transcontinental railroads used Portland as their Pacific coast terminus – the Northern, Southern, and [Union Pacific Railroads](https://bliptext.com/articles/union-pacific-railroad).\nMeanwhile, Portland's wheat and flour industries were growing at an amazing rate, and Portland held \"the largest flour mill on the Pacific coast.\"\nThe 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 ...\"\nOregon's shipping was growing, too, fueled by a $1.5 million project to dike and dredge the [Columbia River](https://bliptext.com/articles/columbia-river).\nDuring this time, Oregon's population grew from 13,294 in 1850 to 413,536 in 1900, a 3,000-percent growth, compared to the 1000-percent growth of the nation as a whole.\nDespite all these positive factors, though, Oregon was not unaffected by the nationwide [Long Depression](https://bliptext.com/articles/long-depression), which had particular effect in 1893.\nJobs were lost across the country as railroads grew too fast on a weak banking system and agricultural values fell.\nThe state's elite business leaders all attempted to devise plans to boost the economy.\nDan 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.\"\nSince the area's focus was on other issues, his proposal went unnoticed for a few years.\nThe idea of a fair came up again occasionally, but no concentrated effort was made for various reasons.\nIt 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.\nSoon, a permanent board was conceived, and the head of the [Portland General Electric](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-general-electric) Company, Henry W. Goode, became the president of the Board of Directors.\nOthers included I. N. Fleischner, First Vice-President; Oskar Huber, Director of Works; Colonel [Henry E. Dosch](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-e-dosch), Director of Exhibits; Henry E. Reed, Secretary; and J. A. Wakefield, Director of Concessions and Admissions.\nThese were some of Portland's most wealthy and powerful men, working together to create an event of unmatched grandeur and power.\n\n## Finding a theme\nAlthough 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.\nThe theme for the Portland fair came from the advice of the [Oregon Historical Society](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon-historical-society).\nThey suggested that the centennial anniversary of the [Lewis and Clark Expedition](https://bliptext.com/articles/lewis-and-clark-expedition)'s stay in Oregon would be a perfect event to commemorate.\nAs 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.'\" In addition, a motto was decided on, to focus the festivities and bolster publicity: \"Westward The Course of Empire Takes Its Way.\"\n# [Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Lewis///and///clark-expedition.jpg]\n\n## Funding\nOnce a theme was set, the men began securing exhibits and getting support for their investments.\nGetting government backing was crucial due to the personal investments already made: \"The Ladd and Tilton Bank [invested] $20,000, the [Northern Pacific Railroad](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-pacific-railroad) another $20,000, and brewer [Henry Weinhard](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-weinhard) $10,000.\"\nMany 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.\nIn addition, approximately 3,000 average citizens purchased stock certificates both as investment opportunities and to support what they viewed as a worthwhile venture.\nThese individual investments eventually paid off greatly.\n\n## Political action\nSeeing the potential benefits of the fair's success, the [state legislature](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon-legislative-assembly) began planning appropriations for the fair.\nAlthough they \"had [little] interest in the historical heroes and their 2000 mi trek ... they [shared] the vision of Pacific trade that had motivated the exploration and settlement of the Oregon Country.\"\nThus, the Legislature 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.\nAfter the Fair's completion, it was reported that\n\"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.\"\nThus the fair received funding to hold the exposition.\nThe bill that appropriated the funds also created a special commission to oversee the organization of the fair.\nAs 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.\"\nFirst assembling on May 30, 1903, they were a committee appointed by the government with the intent of sharing the burdens of planning.\nOn this date, they chose a president, [Jefferson Myers](https://bliptext.com/articles/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.\"\nThis seemed to go well, and their assistance helped guide the fair through the governmental hurdles inherent with the planning of such a venture.\nAfter 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.\nHe, 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.\"\nHe 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.\nThese praises of Portland were repeated by the State Commission, further supporting the city's great assistance.\n\n# Exposition grounds\n# [Overview of the grounds | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Lewis-clark-expo-then-web.jpg]\n\n## Finding a site\nAfter 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.\nThere were a number of locations considered, on both the east and west sides of the Willamette River.\nThe three main sites on the eastern side were University Park, now the site of the [University of Portland](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-portland); City View Park, now Sellwood Park and [Oaks Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/oaks-amusement-park); and Hawthorne Park, now an industrial area.\nThe western sites considered were City Park, now [Washington Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-park-portland-oregon); and [Guild's Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/guild-s-lake) in the [Balch Creek](https://bliptext.com/articles/balch-creek) watershed.\nGuild's Lake was a site \"everyone in Portland was vaguely aware of ... [though] no one on the site selection subcommittee could remember whether it evaporated during the dry season.\"\nInspections showed it remained at a depth of 2.5 ft through the summer, and therefore would be an appropriate site.\nBy September 4, 1902, the [Oregon Journal](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon-journal) reported: \"the fair officials are hot on the trail of a site and it is confidently predicted that 'something will be doing' shortly.\"\nThe next day, they reported the committee 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](https://bliptext.com/articles/willamette-heights) was to be chosen, as \"It is claimed that the natural advantages offered by the [Willamette Heights](https://bliptext.com/articles/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.\"\nWith this voting, \"the Lewis and Clark Exposition had its site – a grove of trees, 180 acre of pasture, and 220 acre of waist-high stagnant water at the site's center.\"\nGuild's Lake had numerous other advantages.\nAs the site was located on the edge of settlement in Portland, it was easily accessed by the populace.\nTwo local [trolley](https://bliptext.com/articles/tram) lines (the Portland Railway and City Suburban Railway) ran to within one block of the proposed entrance.\nGuild's Lake also had the advantage of being located adjacent to the recently constructed [Vaughn Street Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/vaughn-street-park), a [baseball](https://bliptext.com/articles/baseball) stadium that would prove rather useful during the operation of the fair.\nThe site was also accessible from the river, and [steamers](https://bliptext.com/articles/steamboat) provided visitors a ride to the site for 10 cents.\nThe site was sold for private development prior to the fair and was leased back to the city for the event.\n# [The four people most responsible for the exposition, per Joseph Gaston:\n Henry W. Corbett Lewis B. Cox Henry E. Dosch Henry L. Pittock | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/The///four///men///who///made///the///Lewis///and///Clark///Exposition///a///possibility.png]\n\n## Design and construction\nNumerous individuals were involved in the design and construction of the fairgrounds and buildings.\nThe [Olmsted Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/olmsted-brothers) design firm was hired to develop a plan for the grounds, for $5,000.\nThe plan designed by [John Charles Olmsted](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-charles-olmsted) took advantage of the scenic views available from the site, including [Mount St. Helens](https://bliptext.com/articles/mount-st-helens) and the river.\n(Olmsted also developed a [plan for Portland's park system](https://bliptext.com/articles/olmsted-portland-park-plan) during the same visit.)\n[Ion Lewis](https://bliptext.com/articles/ion-lewis), of the firm [Whidden & Lewis](https://bliptext.com/articles/whidden-lewis), supervised a board of seven architects responsible for designing the fair's buildings.\nThe six other architects were [Edgar M. Lazarus](https://bliptext.com/articles/edgar-m-lazarus), [Emil Schacht](https://bliptext.com/articles/emil-schacht), [Justus F. Krumbein](https://bliptext.com/articles/justus-f-krumbein), [David C. Lewis](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-chambers-lewis), [Richard Martin, Jr.](https://bliptext.com/articles/richard-martin-jr), and [Henry J. Hefty](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-j-hefty).\nThe majority of the buildings were in the style of the [Spanish Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-renaissance) and decorated with architectural flourishes such as [domes](https://bliptext.com/articles/dome), [cupolas](https://bliptext.com/articles/cupola), arched doorways and red-colored roofs.\nThe buildings, not intended to be permanent, were largely constructed of [plaster](https://bliptext.com/articles/plaster) over wooden frames, which resulted in rather low construction costs (79 cents per foot).\nThe major exception to this was the Forestry Building, a [log cabin](https://bliptext.com/articles/log-cabin) which was said to be the world's largest.\nIt was constructed of 54 long unhewn logs, and contained exhibits of local forestry products, wildlife, and [Native American](https://bliptext.com/articles/native-americans-in-the-united-states) photographs.\nThe building was 206 ft long, 102 ft wide, and 72 ft high (63 m x 31m x 22m), and cost nearly $30,000 The building stood until destroyed by fire in 1964 and inspired the [Western Forestry Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-forestry-center) as a replacement.\nIt also inspired the lobby of the [Glacier Park Lodge](https://bliptext.com/articles/glacier-park-lodge) in Montana.\nThe fair was lit up by night with [incandescent lights](https://bliptext.com/articles/incandescent-light-bulb), as well as large [searchlights](https://bliptext.com/articles/searchlight) on the Government Building.\nThese were designed by [Thomas H. Wright](https://bliptext.com/articles/thomas-h-wright), working for [Portland General Electric](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-general-electric).\nIn addition, numerous [statues](https://bliptext.com/articles/statue) adorned the grounds.\nSeveral of the statues remain today, including [Alice Cooper](https://bliptext.com/articles/alice-cooper-sculptor)'s [Sacajawea and Jean-Baptiste](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacajawea-and-jean-baptiste) which now stands in Washington Park.\nOver 100 thousand light bulbs were used to outline the buildings, bridges, and statues; the result was a spectacular nighttime view.\nSome exhibits took up to three years to assemble.\n# [Groundbreaking ceremony of the Expo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/LewisandClarkExpoGroundbreaking.jpg]\n\n# Exposition\nThe exposition opened on June 1, 1905, and ran until October 15, 1905, a four and a half month span.\nIt included exhibitions from 21 nations and 16 U.S. states, as well as numerous branches of the federal government, and private organizations.\nThe [Multnomah Athletic Club](https://bliptext.com/articles/multnomah-athletic-club), an amateur club from [Portland, Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-oregon), assisted in organizing the Lewis and Clark Athletic Games and Championship Contests.\n\n## Exhibits\nThe largest exhibit by a foreign nation was [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy)'s, whose pavilion contained a large collection of marble statues.\n[Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) and [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) also spent enormous sums on their exhibits, the latter providing a replica of the drawing room of [King Louis XIV](https://bliptext.com/articles/king-louis-xiv).\n[Japan](https://bliptext.com/articles/japan) spent $1 million (a significant sum in 1905) on its exhibit, including numerous cultural artifacts such as porcelains, silks, and lanterns.\nStates with exhibits at the exposition were: [Alaska](https://bliptext.com/articles/alaska), [Arizona](https://bliptext.com/articles/arizona), [California](https://bliptext.com/articles/california), [Colorado](https://bliptext.com/articles/colorado), [Idaho](https://bliptext.com/articles/idaho), [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois), [Louisiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/louisiana), [Maine](https://bliptext.com/articles/maine), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts), [Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/missouri), [Montana](https://bliptext.com/articles/montana), [Nebraska](https://bliptext.com/articles/nebraska), [New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state), [North Dakota](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-dakota), [Oregon](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregon), [Oklahoma](https://bliptext.com/articles/oklahoma), [Utah](https://bliptext.com/articles/utah), [Washington](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-state), and [Wyoming](https://bliptext.com/articles/wyoming).\nEach attending state was granted a day to publicize its exhibit, often attended by visiting dignitaries.\nThere were extensive exhibits on topics such as agriculture, technology, and music.\nThe [Mormon Tabernacle Choir](https://bliptext.com/articles/mormon-tabernacle-choir) sent an exhibit, as did the [Smithsonian Institution](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-institution); numerous famous artists such as [Claude Monet](https://bliptext.com/articles/claude-monet) were featured.\nSome of the exhibits were controversial (and by modern standards, offensive), such as an exhibit of [Philippines](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippines) [Igorot](https://bliptext.com/articles/igorot) tribespeople; displayed in order to convince the American populace of the legitimacy of the recent U.S. conquest of the [Philippines](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippines), taken from [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) in the recently concluded [Spanish–American War](https://bliptext.com/articles/spanish-american-war).\nThe exhibit included Igorots living in a simulated village, engaging in traditional activities.\nSome of these activities, such as preparation and consumption of [dog meat](https://bliptext.com/articles/dog-meat), would be viewed as primitive to most visitors.\nMany exhibitors had to be turned away due to lack of space.\n# [The Prune Bear from the Sacramento Valley | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Lewis///and///Clark///Expo///Portland///Oregon///prune///bear.jpg]\n# [Inside of the Forestry Building | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Forestry///Building///Lewis///Clark///Expo///interior///1905.jpg]\n\n## Other attractions\nIn addition to the major exhibits and pavilions, the site also featured an [amusement park](https://bliptext.com/articles/amusement-park), various [sideshows](https://bliptext.com/articles/sideshow), concerts, free [motion pictures](https://bliptext.com/articles/motion-picture) (a novelty in those days), [blimp](https://bliptext.com/articles/blimp) excursions, and numerous vendors selling food and other items.\nThe site was the finish line for a transcontinental automobile race (\"[Hell Gate](https://bliptext.com/articles/hell-gate) to Portland\") by two drivers sponsored by [Olds Motor Works](https://bliptext.com/articles/olds-motor-works).\nThe [Amateur Athletic Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/amateur-athletic-union)'s National Track and Field Championships were held in Portland at [Vaughn Street Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/vaughn-street-park).\nPortland's [Pacific Coast League](https://bliptext.com/articles/pacific-coast-league) baseball team, known then as [the \"Giants\"](https://bliptext.com/articles/portland-beavers), played the 1905 season at a different venue in Portland.\nThe Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club organized a cricket match at the fair between the Portland Cricket Club founded in 1876 and the Victoria Cricket Club founded in 1852.\nConsequently, the Pacific Coast tournament was played in Victoria until 1914.\n(David Sentance US Cricket Historian & author of Cricket in America 1710-2000)\n\n## Economic effect\nThe fair, by all economic measures, was a major success.\nOver the entire run of the fair, the box office recorded almost 1.6 million paid admissions, an average of 11,600 visitors per day.\nTickets to the fair cost 50 cents for adults, a quarter for children.\nForty-thousand visitors attended on the opening day; 50,000 attended on the [Fourth of July](https://bliptext.com/articles/fourth-of-july), and on the anniversary of Portland's incorporation, the daily attendance record of over 85,000 visitors was set.\nThe vast majority (nearly 75%) of visitors were from the Pacific Northwest, with almost half being local residents.\nIn all 2,554,000 people visited the exposition, with 966,000 getting in for free and 1,588,000 paying visitors.\n135,000 visitors were from east of the [Mississippi River](https://bliptext.com/articles/mississippi-river).\nUnusual for such expositions, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was profitable, turning a gross profit of nearly $85,000.\nCapital investors received a 21% return on their investments.\nIn addition, the impact on the local economy was significant.\nIt is estimated a million out-of-town guests came to Portland, resulting in millions of dollars (in 1905 figures) added to the economy.\nIn addition, construction of the fairgrounds provided 1,000 construction jobs.\n\n# Legacy\nVery little of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition remains today.\nThe vast majority of the structures were designed to be temporary and were torn down the following year, in 1906.\nA 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.\nIt burned to the ground in August 1964.\nA replacement museum was built in Portland's [Washington Park](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-park-portland-oregon) and is today known as the [World Forestry Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-forestry-center).\nA few buildings from the fair remain standing today, including the [Fairmount Hotel](https://bliptext.com/articles/fairmount-hotel-portland-oregon), the [American Inn](https://bliptext.com/articles/american-inn), and the [National Cash Register Building](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-cash-register-building) (now the [McMenamins](https://bliptext.com/articles/mcmenamins) St. Johns Theater and Pub).\nAbout half a million pink hybrid tea rose bushes, all \"Mme Caroline Testout,\" were planted along the streets of Portland for the Lewis and Clark Exposition.\nMany of these remain today.\nMany people moved to Portland following the fair, which is why many houses around Portland were built in the years that followed.\nThere were also many street paving and sidewalk projects in the years that followed the fair, and many of the sidewalks in Portland (East Portland especially) are dated from 1910 to 1920.\n[Guild's Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/guild-s-lake), a cutoff [meander](https://bliptext.com/articles/meander) of the Willamette River around which the fairgrounds were built, was slowly filled in by industrial developers (and the [Port of Portland](https://bliptext.com/articles/port-of-portland-oregon)) in the years after the fair; by the 1920s the lake had vanished entirely.\nOver the years, the grounds have been used for a garbage [incinerator](https://bliptext.com/articles/incinerator), a [landfill](https://bliptext.com/articles/landfill), a [rail switching yard](https://bliptext.com/articles/railyard), wartime housing, and warehouses.\nToday 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.\n# [Forestry Building in about 1905 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Forestry///Building///at///Lewis///and///Clark///Exposition.JPG]","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}

History