Missouri's building, by H. H. Hohenschild of St. Louis, was a well-developed colonial design in 'travertine', 64 by 123 feet. It had a deep portico of tall columns rising to the second story, dormers and an octagonal cupola with a flagstaff. Its reception room, 41 by 80 feet, had a small stage and galleries. The Official Guide says its hardwood dance floor was the second largest on the grounds and made it famous before the fair even opened. There were a library of Missouri authors, a kitchen and buffet, and apartments upstairs for the commissioners.
Missouri dedicated the building on March 13, 1915, with 68 hostesses. St. Louis Day was May 1 and Missouri Day May 3. Its ceremonial tree was one of 33 planted at State and foreign buildings during the fair and moved to Golden Gate Park early in 1916 as the Exposition Grove (Todd III, ch. LXXXVI).
At a glance
- 64 by 123 feet; reception room 41 by 80 feet.
- Cost about $30,000 unfurnished; total appropriation about $150,000 (Todd; Condensed Facts gives $100,000).
- Dedicated March 13, 1915.
Afterward
The Official Guide says it was to be turned over to the Government as an army clubhouse; Todd does not confirm this, and its fate is unverified.
Where it stood
Missouri Building stood at about 37.80509 N, 122.45190 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. 315
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. III (1921), ch. LXVII, pp. 351-353
- Official Guide of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915), p. 57
- Condensed Facts Concerning the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915), state appropriation table
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. III (1921), ch. IX, p. 64 (St. Louis Day, Missouri Day)
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. III (1921), ch. LXXXVI, pp. 408-410 (Exposition Grove)