The 1904 Louisiana Exposition ran from April 30 to December 1, 1904, Monday through Saturday. Of course these are not all the events that happened at the Fair, but a selection of the main goings-on.
I would like to thank Mike Truax & Joe Sonderman for much of this information. THIS LIST IS A GENERAL CALENDAR OF THE FAIR'S EVENTS. SEE MIKE TRUAX'S WEB SITE AND JOE SONDERMAN'S BOOK (Louis World's Fair 365 (Stellar Press), FOR A MUCH MORE COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
April 30, 1904: Opening Day.
* 187,793 attended the Fair's first day.
* The invocation at the Plaza of St. Louis was by Rev. Dr. Frank Gunsaulus.
* President Roosevelt opens the Fair via telegraph from the White House.
* John Philip Sousa's band and a chorus of 450 played "Star Spangled Banner" and "Hymn of the West."
* Secretary of War William H. Taft was the keynote speaker and represented the U.S. Government.
* The opening day parade was four miles long, and included 20 marching bands.
May 1, 1904:
* Fair Closed on Sunday.
* Tour of the Fair by a Congressional commission.
May 2, 1904:
* Dedication of the Michigan Building.
* Dedication of the Pennsylvania Building.
* Dedication of the Ohio Building, thousands of souvenir buckeyes were handed out.
May 3, 1904:
* Dedication of the Connecticut Building. The tree sprouted
from Charter Oak was planted.
May 4, 1904:
* Crown Prince Pu Lun from China visits.
* Evening storm drives most Fairgoers home early, lights were turned off to save money.
May 5, 1904:
* Dedication of the German Pavilion.
* Palace of Art opens, but not the American section.
May 6, 1904:
* Dedication of the Chinese Pavilion by Prince Pu Lun
May 7, 1904:
* Opening of the Arkansas, Arizona, California, Indiana, Illinois, Indian Territory, Kentucky,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio,
Oklahoma Territory, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West
Virginia Pavilions.
* The 56 foot tall Vulcan Statue finished.
May 8, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
May 9, 1904:
* Dedication of the Swedish Pavilion.
* 23 ladies of the Board of Lady Managers gave a reception to Mrs. D. R. Francis.
May 10, 1904:
* The seven mile long Intramural Railroad opened. It had 17 stops and steamed along at 12 miles/hour.
* Huge steel pin fell off Observation Wheel and killed worker- John Goll.
May 11, 1904:
* Apache warrior (prisoners from Fort Sill), arrived without chief Geronimo.
* The lagoons were drained for several days to fix leaks.
* The Olympic Stadium (now called Francis Field), was declared open for competition.
May 12, 1904:
* David R. Francis conducts Formal Tour & Inspection of exhibits and attends banquet at the Palace of
Horticulture.
* Testing of the power to the organ in the Festival Hall.
May 13, 1904:
* The pneumatic to the Floral Clock was installed.
May 14, 1904:
* Dedication of the Idaho Building, by Gov. John P. Morrison.
* Dedication and opening of the Belgian Pavilion. 300 orphans were guests.
* First 'Olympic' event held, an interscholastic track meet.
May 15, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
May 16, 1904:
* Dedication and opening of the French Pavilion on a rainy day. Sousa's band played "Marseillaise."
* Philippine Scouts Dress Parade with band.
* Assistant engineer, Hugh Meier was killed by overloaded compressed air pipe bursting, that provided
power to Tyrolean Alps.
May 17, 1904:
* Official opening of the Mississippi Building.
* 200,000 lb. locomotive on turntable began turning at Transportation Building, Big 4's `The Spirit of
the Twentieth Century.'
May 18, 1904:
* Dedication of the Canadian Pavilion. 100 Canadian newspapermen were present.
* Preparations began to send every public school from St. Louis to the Fair.
May 19, 1904:
* World's Press Parliament, the largest journalistic gathering ever begun in Festival Hall.
* Official censored a part of the temple of Mirth attraction for being too suggestive.
* Reception at Louisiana Building.
May 20, 1904:
* Reception at West Virginia Building.
* Naval Exhibit opened on The Pike.
May 21 1904:
* Princeton Day.
* Dedication of the Italian Pavilion.
* First Filipino wedding in U.S. took place in Visayan Village. Saluo Funcion married Mary Dionicio
Asuncion.
May 22, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
May 23, 1904:
* Pennsylvania Building Reception.
* Dr. G.F. Kurz began his radium demonstrations in the US Government Building.
May 24, 1904:
* Brazil Building formal opening with reception.
* Cincinnati Day.
May 25, 1904:
* First American wedding took place in Baptist Chapel railroad car, the "Messenger of Peace", in the Palace of Transportation. George Hellebrand married Effie Harness.
May 26, 1904:
* Dedication of the Texas Building.
* Illinois Day.
* Miss Alice Roosevelt, the President's daughter arrived.
* Opening of the British Pavilion, assisted by Alice Roosevelt.
May 27, 1904:
* Illinois Day (second day), building dedicated & parade, helped by Alice Roosevelt.
May 28, 1904:
* The great Observation Wheel opened to the public at 2:02 PM. Dr. L.C. Shutt bought the first ticket.
Mr. Eddie Rogers and Florence Benton were married in car no. 19.
* Formal opening of the Nebraska Pavilion, helped by Alice Roosevelt.
* Formal opening of the Mexican Pavilion, helped by Alice Roosevelt.
* Formal Opening of the Philippine Exhibit.
May 29, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
May 30, 1904: Memorial Day
* opening of Fair Japan.
* John Reynolds, an Observation Wheel worker, fell to his death while greasing the axle.
June 1, 1904:
* Opening of the Rhode Island Building.
* Opening of the Japanese Imperial Building & Gardens with the help of Alice Roosevelt.
* Opening of the Indian School.
* Second Observation Wheel wedding. Mr. R.J. Woolsen married Miss Carrie Burggraff in car no. 19.
June 2, 1904:
* Opening of the Austrian Pavilion, helped by Alice Roosevelt.
* Alice Roosevelt rides the Observation Wheel in car no. 19.
June 3, 1904:
* Dedication of the Missouri Building with a large parade.
* Dedication of the Indiana Building. Rain storm forced cancellation of the parade.
* Mark Twain Day.
June 4, 1904:
* Pike Day- Parade of all Nations, which included: 5,000 people, 2,000 animals, and 40 bands.
* Dedication of the Kansas City Casino.
* Dedication of the Temple of Fraternity.
* Dedication of the East Indian Pavilion.
* Alice Roosevelt presents medals to winners at an AAU track meet
June 5, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
June 6, 1904:
* Opening of the Ceylon Building and reception.
* Opening of the Italian Pavilion.
* Geronimo arrived at the Fair as a Federal Prisoner.
June 7, 1904:
* Dedication of the Minnesota Building on Minnesota Day.
* A 4,700 pound cheese was installed in the Agricultural Palace in the Missouri section.
* Dedication of the Vulcan Statue.
June 8, 1904: Liberty Bell Day
* Liberty Bell arrived at the fair with a parade of 75,000 children and could be seen for free in the
Pennsylvania Building.
* Dedication of the Maryland Building.
June 9, 1904:
* Dedication of the Festival Hall Organ.
June 10, 1904:
* Fair officials stated that 1,901,391 people visited the Exposition in May.
* Travelers' Protective Association Day, attended by 3,000 attendees.
* First captive balloon flight was performed by a 15 year old messenger boy.
June 11, 1904:
* East St. Louis Day & Parade.
* Dedication of the Disciples Building.
* First Colored Illumination of the Cascades.
June 12, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair officials stated that 97, 310 people paid to enter the Fair on East St. Louis Day.
June 14, 1904: Flag Day
* Flag Day Ceremony in Missouri Building by G.A.R.
* Dedication of the Montana Building, on Montana Day by 32 most popular girls in Montana.
* Dedication of the Model Playground.
* Opening of the Burns Cottage.
* Jefferson Guard, Gerald Doyle, was killed while unloading barrels at Palace of Agriculture.
June 15, 1904:
* Dedication of the Oregon Building, on Oregon Day.
* Dedication of the Kentucky Building, on Kentucky Day.
June 16, 1904:
* Washington University Alumni Day was attended by 2,500 graduates.
* Dedication of the Siamese Pavilion.
June 17, 1904:
* Dedication of the Iowa Building, on Iowa Day, with a parade and a crowd of 50,000.
* Opening operation of the Floral Clock.
June 18, 1904:
* Opening of the Philippine Exhibit and Encampment, with a parade.
* Gunfight involved two Cummins' Wild West workers. Col. Zack Mulhall and Frank Reed. An innocent
bystander- Ernest Morgan was almost fatally shot in the stomach.
* Opening of the Boer War attraction on the Pike to a crowd of 15,000.
June 19, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
June 20, 1904:
* Confederate Veterans Day.
June 21, 1904:
* Opening of the Georgia Building.
June 22, 1904:
* Dedication of the Tennessee Building.
June 23, 1904:
* The House of Hoo Hoo was destroyed by fire. It would be rebuilt.
June 24, 1904:
* Dedication of the Sweden Building, on Swedish Day.
* George Rogers Clark Day. Statue in Kentucky Building unveiled.
June 25, 1904:
* Dedication of the New York Building.
* Dedication of the New Jersey Building.
June 26, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair officials announced that the weekly attendance topped the 500,000 mark for the first time.
June 27, 1904:
* Opening and dedication of the Cuban Pavilion.
June 29, 1904:
* Dedication of the Wisconsin Building, on Wisconsin Day.
* Dedication of the West Virginia Building.
* Dedication of Model Street.
June 30, 1904:
* Catholic Day.
* Booker T. Washington spoke in front of the National Education Association in Festival Hall.
July 1, 1904:
* First International competitions at the 1904 Olympics begun.
July 2, 1904:
* Florida Day (the state did not construct a building).
* Dedication of the Swedenborg House.
* `Negro Day,' on August 1st, was canceled due to many leading black orators and leaders refusing to
attend.
July 3, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* The Wabash Limited train near Litchfield Illinois wrecked, killing over 21 on their way to the Fair and
the National Democratic Convention.
* Fair officials announced that June attendance had doubled.
July 4, 1904: Independence Day
* First "Balloon Race" took place during a light rain.
July 5, 1904:
* American Boy Day (magazine, featured speakers in Festival Hall).
* Fire destroys American Restaurant in Old Jerusalem.
July 6, 1904:
* Opening of the American Section in Art Palace.
* Democratic National Convention began at Coliseum.
* Fisk University day, Mrs. Booker T. Washington spoke in Festival Hall.
July 9, 1904:
* Opening of the Vermont Building.
* Opening of the Argentine Pavilion.
July 10, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair officials state weekly attendance sets record of 592,303.
July 11, 1904:
* Wyoming Day and statehood day (there was no Wyoming building built).
* Opening of the smallest foreign building- Nicaragua Pavilion opened.
* Bad hail and wind storm struck St. Louis, lightning strikes Agriculture Palace's Southern corner and
causes slight damage.
July 13, 1904:
* Hungarian Day.
July 14, 1904:
* French National Day (Bastille Day).
July 15, 1904:
* Poster Day (Associated Billposters and Distributors of the U.S. and Canada).
July 16, 1904:
* Pageant Day- Anthropology Sports & Festivities in Plaza of St. Louis.
July 17, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
July 18, 1904:
* Opening of the New Hampshire building.
July 19, 1904:
* Mexican Pavilion was struck by lightning. The cupola was destroyed during severe storm.
July 22, 1904:
* Sigma Chi Day- groups roamed the fairgrounds singing college songs.
July 23, 1904:
* The opening & dedication of the Philippine Model School.
* Dedication of the rebuilt House of Hoo-Hoo.
July 24, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair officials stated that attendance was 512,150 for the week.
July 25, 1904:
* Puerto Rico (Porto Rico), Day.
July 26, 1904:
* Elks Day & parade. British cavalry troops, and 200 Boer War veterans march. President Francis rode
with Borax Bill behind 20 mules.
July 27, 1904:
* Amateur Photographers Day.
July 30, 1904:
* Railroad & Transportation Day.
July 31, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Previous week's attendance was 551,742.
August 1, 1904:
* Emancipation Day.
August 2, 1904:
* Children's Day, over 40,000 St. Louis school children watch. Parade of Children of all Nations.
* National Cyclists Day.
* W. H. Green died performing a stunt at Old St. Louis on the Pike. He fell 50 feet. Another stunt show
involving a bicycle and trapeze on a 122-foot wire is permanently canceled.
August 3, 1904:
* Confectioners Day.
August 6, 1904:
* Manufacturer's Day – Fair visitors got numbers upon entry for free gifts.
* Bohemian Day.
* National Cash Register Day – 4,000 employees attend.
August 7, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
August 8, 1904:
* Dedication of the Guatemala Pavilion.
August 10, 1904:
* Military Day at Boer War.
August 11, 1904:
* Anthropology Field Days "Olympics" were held on August 11 to 12.
August 12, 1904:
* Automobile Day, 285 cars arrive and parade through the fairgrounds.
* Cuba Day.
August 13, 1904:
* Philippine Day. Secretary of War- William Howard Taft reviewed large military parade.
* Mrs. Breckenridge Jones, St. Louis society woman, died when her horses bolt with her carriage hurled
down a 20-foot embankment near the Boer War.
August 14, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Colonel Cummins arrested following a near-riot pertaining to Human Society and the shows cowboys.
* Fair officials stated that last week's attendances shattered all previous records.
August 15, 1904:
* Scottish Day - Parade, Phinney's Band arrives and performs.
* Missouri Peach Day, 30,000 people receive free peach at the Palace of Agriculture.
August 17, 1904:
* Music Dealer's Day.
August 18, 1904:
* Opening of the Missouri Building state library, which contained over 10,000 volumes.
August 19, 1904:
* Territory of New Mexico Day.
* Swiss Day.
* Tyrolean Alps Day.
August 20, 1904:
* Pennsylvania Day.
* Author Kate Chopin collapsed at the Fair. She died two days later.
August 21, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
August 22, 1904:
* Missouri Week.
* Pythian Day - Drills in Plaza of St. Louis.
August 25, 1904:
* Alton Illinois Day. Over 3,000 residents attended the festivities.
August 26, 1904:
* St. Charles Day.
August 27, 1904:
* Liberal Arts Day, Floral Parade.
* St. Joseph, Missouri Day.
August 28, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Louisiana Purchase trophy automobile race held at a dust-winded Fairgrounds Race Track, Barney
Oldfield crashed and killed two spectators.
* Fair officials announced the attendance of 15th week- 793, 471.
August 29, 1904:
* Indiana Week.
August 30, 1904:
* Olympic Marathon Race, Thomas Hicks won the race in over 90 degrees.
August 31, 1904:
* Mining Gulch Day, 10,000 free watermelons were given out.
* Opening of the Bulgaria's Varied Industries Exhibits.
* Eagle Day.
September 1, 1904:
* Tennessee Day. A crowd of over 4,000 was present.
* Indiana Day attended by thousands.
September 4, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
September 5, 1904: Labor Day
* 209,618 fairgoers shattered the single most attended day.
* Oklahoma City Day. 4.700 residents came to the Fair that day.
September 6, 1904:
* Oklahoma Territory Day. 2,000 watermelons were sliced up and handed out.
September 7, 1904:
* Lumber Dealer's Day, attended by 10,000 at the House of Hoo Hoo.
September 8, 1904:
* Hoo-Hoo Day.
September 9, 1904:
* California Day. Over 20,000 pounds of fruit and 7,000 bottles of California wine were given out.
* Odd Fellows Day.
* 13th Annual Hoo-Hoo Day, House of Hoo-Hoo dedicated.
September 10, 1904:
* Machinery Day.
* Spanish War Veterans Day.
September 11, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* 874,954 people attended the Fair the previous week.
September 12, 1904:
* Texas Day.
* Maryland Day.
September 13, 1904:
* Catholic Knights of America Day.
September 14, 1904:
* Louisiana Day.
* Louisiana Purchase Day.
* Electricity Day, which included 30 different floats.
September 15, 1904:
* St. Louis Day- 404,450 attend the Fair.
* Mississippi Day.
* Farmer's Day.
September 16, 1904:
* Belleville, Illinois Day.
* Mexico Day.
September 17, 1904:
* Colorado Day. 10,000 cantaloupes were given out.
* Massachusetts Day.
* Territory of Arizona Day.
* Red Men Day which featured a parade.
September 18, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair official stated that attendance passed the million mark per week for the first time.
September 19, 1904:
* The dedication of the Arizona Territory Building.
September 20, 1904:
* State of Nevada Day.
September 21, 1904:
* Dedication of the Illinois Building and Illinois Day. First black troops were quartered there.
September 22, 1904:
* Illinois Day - Parade.
* Arkansas Day. 25,000 red apples were given.
September 23, 1904:
* State of Virginia Day.
* Lewis & Clark Day.
* Lewis Loyal Legion Day.
September 24, 1904:
* State of Idaho Day.
September 25, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
September 26, 1904:
* Memphis Day.
* Mexico Day.
* Temple of Fraternity Day.
* Masonic Day.
September 27, 1904:
* State of North Dakota Day.
* Louisville Day.
September 28, 1904:
* Georgia Day.
September 29, 1904:
* South Dakota Day.
October 1, 1904:
* Indian Territory Day. 1,000 Indians of the crowd of 3,000 pleaded for statehood.
* Protective Home Circle Day.
October 2, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* A Jefferson Guard was shot by another, after they quarreled about a slot machine robbery.
October 3, 1904:
* New York City Day.
October 4, 1904:
* New York Day.
* International Advertising Association Day.
* Apple Day. 1,200 barrels of apples were distributed in the Palace of Agriculture and Horticulture.
October 5, 1904:
* Rhode Island Day.
* Indianapolis Day. Over a thousand citizens came to celebrate.
* Real Estate Men's Day.
October 6, 1904:
* New Jersey Day.
* Ohio Day. Buckeyes were given out.
* Germany Day.
* Mayors Day.
October 7, 1904:
* Daughters of the Confederacy Day.
October 8, 1904:
* Maine Day.
* Chicago Day.
October 9, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
October 10, 1904:
* Cuba Day (National Day).
October 11, 1904:
* Missouri Day - Large parade & reception. Distribution of 100,000 medals and 10,000 sandwiches.
* 179, 964 attend the Fair, the fifth highest.
October 12, 1904: Columbus Day
* Michigan Day.
* Italian Day. 20,000 Italians celebrate Italian day. Water carnival.
October 13, 1904:
* Connecticut Day.
* Detroit Day.
October 15, 1904:
* Kansas City Day. 5,000 citizens of Kansas City attended.
* Iowa Cities Day.
* German Liederkranz Day.
October 16, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
October 17, 1904:
* St. Joseph Day.
October 18, 1904:
* Territory of Alaska Day.
* Helen Keller Day. She was the only living person honored by the Exposition.
* St. Louis University Day. 4.000 people attended in Festival Hall.
October 19, 1904:
* District of Columbia Day. US Marine band performed.
* Jefferson Day.
* Milwaukee Day. 500 Milwaukeeans, led by Mayor Rose and his official family, made up the party,
accompanied by Clauder's Military Band
October 20, 1904:
* Utah Day. Performance by the 200 members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
* Disciples of Christ Day.
October 21, 1904:
* Congregational Day.
October 23, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
October 24, 1904:
* Pigeon, dogs & cats show began.
October 25, 1904:
* Omaha Day.
* Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. Day
October 26, 1904:
* Nebraska Day. 2,000 residents from the state attended.
* National Dairy Men's Day.
October 28, 1904:
* Missouri University Day.
October 29, 1904:
* Two Syrian men from the Pike's Old Jerusalem argued resulting in shooting and the death of
Mick Azzi.
October 30, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair officials state that nearly 16 million people had visited the Fair.
October 31, 1904: Halloween
* Ohio Cities' Week.
* Toledo Day.
November 1, 1904:
* Cleveland Day.
November 2, 1904:
* Columbus Day.
* Fair officials declared that school children would be admitted free on Saturdays until the end of
the Fair, with a paying adult.
November 3, 1904:
* Springfield Ohio Day.
November 5, 1904:
* Ireland Day.
* Cincinnati Day. 1,500 citizens attended.
November 6, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair officials stated that attendance was good, 16 million people had seen the Fair so far.
November 8, 1904:
* Rose Day at the Flower Show.
* American Flag Day. Largest flag ever flown was hung on a wire over the Plaza of St. Louis.
November 9, 1904:
* Carnation Day at the Flower show.
November 12, 1904:
* Tyrolean Alps Day included contests and an evening ball.
* Miniature Railway passengers robbed of a hundred dollars, just outside the Boer Reenactment.
November 13, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair officials stated that over 122,000 people attended the Fair the day before (Saturday).
November 15, 1904:
* Borough of Brooklyn, New York Day. A delegation of several hundred Brooklynites attended.
* Brazilian Day.
* Vice President Fairbanks visited the Fair.
November 16, 1904:
* St. Paul and Minneapolis day. Shown was a twin cities museum.
November 18, 1904:
* New Mexico Day. 1,000 guests attend.
November 19, 1904:
* Queen's Daughter Day.
* United Irish League Day.
November 20, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Damage due to Missouri Building fire was less than thought. 20,000 dollars in losses.
November 24, 1904: Thanksgiving
* Thanksgiving Day services were observed in Festival Hall.
November 25, 1904:
* South African Day. British and Boer soldiers marched in parade.
November 26, 1904: President's Day
* President Theodore Roosevelt visits the Fair. 600 attend a banquet in his honor.
* 163,758 attend at day.
November 27, 1904:
* Fair Closed- Sunday.
* Fair official state attendance at 18,317,457.
November 28, 1904:
* Acrobat dies at the Pike's Paris Theater as trapeze bar rope breaks.
December 1, 1904: Closing Day
* David R. Francis Day. Francis presented with a gold and silver table service. Final Speech.
* 203,101 attend the final day.
* Palaces close early.
* Closing Fireworks.
December 2, 1904:
* Arsonist destroyed several attractions on the Pike. Entire St. Louis fire department helped battle fire.
* Workers begin emptying the huge Palaces of it's exhibits.
December 3, 1904:
* Sightseers were charged 25 cents to see the demolishing of the Fair buildings.
