Meet Me in St. Louis: The 1904 World's Fair and Olympic Games Driving Tour - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. The Philippine Reservation (1904)

While the 1904 World’s Fair was a grand demonstration of America's burgeoning industries and advancements in science and technology, several of the exhibits demonstrated that the prevailing attitude towards people of color in the United States and around the world was similar to previous centuries. The United States had initially fought alongside Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino rebels in their fight for independence from Spain, but after Spain surrendered, the United States remained and colonized the islands while waging a prolonged war against Aguinaldo and others who hoped for independence. Only a few years removed from the worst of that conflict, Americans celebrated their new acquisition with the Philippine Reservation, a 47-acre exhibit at the St. Louis World's Fair. The exhibit, which was roughly centered at this point, transformed this section of the fairgrounds to represent the natural landscape of the Philippine Islands from present-day Arundel Place to Wydoyn Boulevard and University Lane to De Munb Avenue. The reservation, as it was known, housed over 1,000 Filipino people who were required to act as if indigenous life and culture were backward. In doing so, the exhibit reassured American visitors and helped justify American colonization despite the horrific civilian casualties and loss of American troops to disease during the peak of occupation. At the same time, the Filipino men and women who lived here demonstrated some degree of agency in making some aspects of the exhibit more closely resemble the history and culture of the Philippines.

2. Francis Olympic Field

Washington University’s Francis Olympic Field was built in 1902 and hosted the 1904 Olympic Games. The venue currently seats around 4,000 spectators who attend Washington University events and the university's football, soccer, and track and field teams utilize the historic field for practices and games. Francis Field and the accompanying Francis Gymnasium are U.S. National Landmarks and named in honor of David R. Francis, a former Missouri Governor and the president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

3. Brookings Hall

Brookings Hall is located on the Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Construction for Brookings (originally University) Hall began in 1900 and took roughly two years to complete. The historic building was leased to the Louisiana Expedition Company for the 1904 World's Fair as an Administration Building. Currently, the building is used for Washington University administration offices, financial services, and the graduate school for the College of Arts and Sciences.

4. The Pike (1904)

The Pike was a defining element of the 1904 World’s Fair. This mile-long attraction ran along what is now Lindell Boulevard and turned down Skinker Avenue and offered a mixture of exhibits, rides, stores, and themed restaurants. The average fair-goer could get a taste of several countries or be transported to another world all within an afternoon. As a result, the entertainments and experiences offered along the Pike helped separate the St. Louis World’s Fair from the World’s Fair hosted by Chicago just a decade prior. The Pike also introduced many people to new technologies, foods, and cultures.

5. Apotheosis of St. Louis

The Apotheosis of St. Louis is a statue of the city's namesake (King Louis IX of France) and a replica of a plaster statue that served as one of the landmarks at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. This bronze version of the statue was designed after the fair and quickly became one of the symbols of the city. The statue has been located in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park since 1906. Prior to the completion of the Gateway Arch, the statue was the principal symbol of the city. Although supplanted by the Arch, this statue continues to serve the iconography of St. Louis for more than a century after the World's Fair.

6. Saint Louis Art Museum

The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) houses an impressive collection of 33,000 works that spans all of human history; nearly every culture from around the world is represented. As such, the SLAM is one of the leading comprehensive museums in the country. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, photography prints, ancient artifacts, weaponry, textiles, and other forms of art. It is possible to see 3,000 (and counting) of these items on the museum's website. The museum puts on exhibitions throughout the year to complement the permanent exhibition galleries. Education and outreach are also important goals of the museum. To this end, it offers classes for people of all ages, concerts, performances, films, and lectures.

7. The St. Louis Zoo Flight Cage

Originally designed in 1904 for the St. Louis World’s Fair, the Flight Cage has brought tourists and bird lovers joy for over 100 years. The 50-foot tall, 228-foot-long cage contains 20 different species of birds indigenous to North America. Viewers can take a stroll down plant-filled pathways to view all that the Flight Cage has to offer. The Flight Cage is located in Forest Park at the St. Louis Zoo which offers free public admission.

8. World's Fair Pavilion, Forest Park

This pavilion was constructed in 1909, a few years after the St. Louis World's Fair, which was held in Forrest Park in 1904. Located at the top of Government Hill, the pavilion offers wide views of the city's premier park and includes elements designed to reflect the scale and grandeur of the fair. In 1930, an electric fountain and reflecting pool were added, leading the St. Louis Star-Times to declare this decorative water feature to be "a new note in the evening symphony of beauty in Forest Park." In the summer of 1970, a festival sponsored by the Youth International Party was held at the Pavilion, and rock concerts also took place at the pavilion during the 1970s. By the late twentieth century, however, the building was in need of maintenance. In 1980, the pavilion underwent an exterior restoration, and from 1998 to 2007 a full renovation was completed, along with upgrades to other significant areas in Forest Park. Today, the Pavilion is a popular destination for photographers and tourists, as well as a venue for weddings and special events.

9. Forest Park's Pagoda Circle and Nathan Frank Bandstand

Located on a small island within Pagoda Lake, the original wooden bandstand that existed at this site was built for the grand opening of Forest Park in 1876. Designed in a Syrian style, it soon became one of the park's most photographed structures, as spectators gathered around the lake to listen to musical concerts during the 1904 World's Fair. In 1911, however, the pagoda was damaged in a storm and then lost to a fire. It was not until the early 1920s, when the St. Louis philanthropist Nathan Frank donated $50,000, that a new bandstand could be constructed on the picturesque island known as Pagoda Circle. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by Heffensteller, Hirsch, and Watson, this new pagoda was built from white marble and concrete, with a copper roof and bronze railings. Although it remains accessible only by boat, it is still one of the most popular and recognizable landmarks in Forest Park.

10. Jewel Box Greenhouse and Botanic Garden

The Jewel Box is a historic glasshouse (greenhouse) and botanic garden in Forest Park. Built in 1936, the Art Deco structure was designed by the architect William C.E. Becker and constructed from iron and glass. In lieu of a traditional glass roof, the design features five stepped wood roofs with clerestories to allow light to enter. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and fully renovated in 2002, the Jewel Box features permanent horticultural displays. It is open daily to the public and is a popular rental venue for weddings and other private events.

This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.

Meet Me in St. Louis: The 1904 World's Fair and Olympic Games Driving Tour

Created by Ashley Allemann on April 28th 2022, 5:11:42 am.

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Description

Best suited for driving, this tour moves through Forrest Park and the neighborhoods west of the park to include numerous landmarks whose histories are deeply tied to 1904 when St. Louis hosted both the Olympic Games and the World's Fair. Known as the Louisiana Purchase Expedition, the 1904 World's Fair marked St. Lousi's arrival on the world stage and hosted exhibits that demonstrated scientific achievements, industry growth, innovation, and artistic and cultural exhibits. The fair also demonstrated prevailing attitudes, with exhibits such as the Old Plantation providing a comforting and nostalgic view of slavery for attendees while the Philippines Reservation celebrated colonialism. Reflecting the best and worst aspects of America at the Turn of the Century, the St. Louis World's Fair offers a window to understanding the city and nation at this time. This event created a lasting mark on St. Louis's History and served as the inspiration for the 1944 film "Meet Me in St. Louis," starring Judy Garland.

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