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288 DAYSSan Francisco · 1915 ⌕
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The Zone

The Evolution of the Dreadnaught (later 'World Wars')

A naval spectacle tracing fighting ships from ancient galleys to the modern dreadnaught, later restaged around the sinking of the Lusitania.

The Evolution of the Dreadnaught and the World's War on the Zone
The Evolution of the Dreadnaught and the World's War on the ZoneThe Blue Book, official souvenir view book (Robert A. Reid, 1915), via Internet Archive / San Francisco Public Library · Public domain (published 1915, United States)

The Official Guide described the Evolution of the Dreadnaught as showing the development of fighting craft "from the early galleys to the modern dreadnaught." Two days before opening, steel "in strange forms" was still going into its building. It closed early.

The Exposition tried to revive it, putting about $3,000 into a new spectacle called "World Wars" that featured the sinking of the Lusitania. The consul of what Todd calls "a then powerful foreign government" objected to the subtitle, which brought useful publicity. Even so, the new show was never particularly popular. It made a little money late in the season.

At a glance

  • Listed in the Official Guide among the Zone's major concessions.
  • Closed early; restaged as "World Wars" with Exposition money (about $3,000).
  • On the spring 1915 map it stands between Fire Station No. 3 and the Aeroscope.

Afterward

Demolished with the Zone in 1916.

Where it stood

The Evolution of the Dreadnaught (later 'World Wars') stood at about 37.80251 N, 122.42769 W on today's map. The whole fairground over the city →

Sources