As one entered the Fair from the Lindell Street, the Model City was the first attraction you would see.
The Model City was a four-block area that showcased how an idea town could look like. This was an important attraction for city planners, officials as well as administrators and civilians. 1,200 feet of roadway featured ten different variations of paving. There were illuminated signs, water and sewer service, lamp posts, public clocks, fountains, as well as a miniature city park- all to illustrate what can be done in a town.
The Model Street, was equipped with an emergency hospital with a full corps of physicians, nurses, attendants, and latest equipment. The staff, consisted of 9 surgeons, 9 orderlies, 9 stretcher bearers, 10 trained nurses and 5 ambulances- all under the charge of Dr. L. H. Laidley, Medical Director of the Exposition. Jefferson Guards could summon an ambulance from anywhere in the fairgrounds.
It was even suggested that the Model City be called "Spotless Town!"
National Cash Register as well as the Salvation Army both sponsored a building at the Model City.
Major cities including: New York, Atlantic City, Kansas City, and San Francisco had buildings along the street. The New York building alone cost 86,500 dollars to build, complete with a subway model, and numerous plans for bridges and tunnels.
The Model Town Hall sat on Municipal Street. The building cost 15,395 dollars to build.
On of the most important areas of Model City was the attraction's four-building Model Playground and Nursery that was designed by Ruth Ashley Hirschfield of New York City, a crusader for the establishment of playgrounds and childcare programs, who hoped the Fair’s Model Playground would become an example for all communities to follow. If parents wanted to see the Fair on their own, they would drop off a child (or children), into the experienced hands and watchful eyes of nurses. There, they were tagged and let to roam around and play. They were given two meals a day, bathed and provided beds if needed.
The Model Playground was filled with pavilions, canopies, cottages, croquet and basketball courts
and restrooms with tubs and showers.
Older children we allowed to use gymnastic equipment which included: parallel bars, ladders,
springboards, swings, see-saws, tumbling mats and trapezes, or partake in supervised games.
Any lost child found by the Jefferson Guard, were take to the Model Playground.
The Model City playground was awarded a grand prize by the Exposition’s Social and Economic Jury.
