The Federal Concourse was a small circular plaza at the hinge of the western grounds, where the Esplanade crossed the Avenue of Nations and met the Olympian Way. The Massachusetts Building stood on its west side, facing east, its golden dome closing the long view down the Esplanade from the palaces. Around the circle stood Washington to the north, Utah and, in the gore between the Esplanade and the Avenue of Nations, Indiana to the east, and the Philippine Building to the south. The Philippine Constabulary Band held its May Day sports here.
The Concourse was a turning point for processions. The Zone Day pageant of May 27, 1915, marched west along the Esplanade to the Massachusetts Building and came back by the Avenue of Nations. The exposition tram ran the same way, out along the Esplanade to the Massachusetts Building and northwest by the Avenue of Nations to the Marina and the Live Stock section, then back by the Olympian Way past the Philippine Building.
At a glance
- Junction of the Esplanade, the Avenue of Nations and the Olympian Way (Todd).
- The Massachusetts Building faced east across it.
- The Zone Day parade of May 27, 1915, turned at the Massachusetts Building.
Afterward
Removed with the State section; the site is Presidio land at Crissy Field.
Where it stood
Federal Concourse stood at about 37.80399 N, 122.45635 W on today's map. The whole fairground over the city →
Sources
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. III (1921), ch. LVIII, p. 310
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. III (1921), ch. LXXIV, p. 371; ch. LXXV, p. 373; ch. LXXVI, p. 376; ch. LXXVII, p. 382
- Museum of the City of San Francisco, Panama-Pacific International Exposition Map (1915), the circle at the Avenue of States / Avenue of Nations junction
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. III (1921), ch. IX, p. 63 (Zone Day parade route)
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. II (1921), ch. LXIX, p. 380 (tram route)