Forest Park

1904 World's Fair, largest World's Fair ever

Meet Me in St. Louis

During the 1904 World's Fair, the Festival Hall rises over the Grand Basin.

Click to enlarge.

I-64 at Kingshighway
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
United States
(314) 289-5300

On This Very Spot from April 30 to December 1, the 1904 World's Fair, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, was held. With more than 20 million visitors, it remains the largest World's Fair ever.

On This Very Spot Indian leader Geronimo made a public appearance, and the Liberty Bell was on display. President Theodore Roosevelt was among many dignitaries who visited the Fair.

On This Very Spot beginning on May 14, the 1904 Olympics were held during and adjacent to the Fair. These were the first modern Olympics held in America and the first in which gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded.

On This Very Spot during the Fair, Roy Knabenshue performed the first successful controlled lighter-than-air flight in a dirigible airship named "The California Arrow"

On This Very Spot during the 1904 World's Fair, several ice cream vendors claimed to have invented the Ice cream cone. Although there were already patents on the ice cream cone at the time, there is no doubt that it was on this very spot that the ice cream cone was first noticed by the public, becoming wildly popular across the nation almost overnight. For a detailed history of the ice cream cone, visit http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/IceCream/IceCreamCone.htm.

"Meet Me in St. Louis" was a popular 1904 song celebrating the Fair. The song later inspired the 1944 Judy Garland movie of the same name, a musical set against the backdrop of the Fair. (In the song, "Louis" is pronounced "Louie.")

For photos and more information, visit the City of St. Louis website or the even more fun http://washingtonmo.com/1904/.

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This is a public park. For complete information, visit the park's official website at www.forestparkforever.org.

Condition: The Grand Basin and other areas seen in photos of the 1904 World's Fair remain much as they were at the time. However, only three structures from the World's Fair remain, the Administration Building (now Washington University's Brookings Hall), the Palace of Fine Arts (now part of the Art Museum), and the Bird Cage.

Nearest Major Airport: St. Louis