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The World's Industrial & Cotton Centennial Exposition
New Orleans, Louisiana
December 16th, 1884 - June 1st, 1885
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The World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition celebrated the centenary of the first export of cotton from the United States, in 1784, and was promoted to be one of the greatest World's Fairs ever held. However, this was not how history was to remember and record it.
Opening 15 days late, due to bad weather, as well as construction and exhibit delays, the 249-acre exposition was far from complete for its December 16th, 1884 grand opening. Major E.A. Burke, the Director-General, had unwisely overspent the original sum of money generated to stage the endeavor. Thus, the exposition began its run already seriously deep in debt. However, its main exhibit structures were quite impressive, and when the exhibits were finally arranged and completed, the exposition began to, at least partially, fulfill its promoters' promises.
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The Main Building was the largest exhibit building on the grounds, and the largest wooden structure in the world, covering an area of 33 acres. It contained Foreign Government, Foreign & Domestic Industry, and Machinery exhibits, as well as Music Hall, which could accomodate 13,000 people. Second floor galleries extended around the interior, from which overviews of the exhibits could be seen. The structure was illuminated by 800 arc and 3,600 incandescent lights, installed by the Edison Electric Co.
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Main Building - 1,378 ft. x 905 ft. - 33 acres of floor space
(Largest wooden structure in the world, at time of construction)
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The Government & States Building was the next major exhibit structure, covering 14 acres, containing the U.S. Government, States & Territories, Educational, Woman's, and Colored People's exhibits. The State & Territorial displays were highly praised, with every region, except Utah and Alaska, being represented. The second floor gallery housed the first comprehensive exhibit of African-Americans ever shown.
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Government & States Building - 885 ft. x 565 ft - 14 acres of floor space
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Horticultural Hall was the third major structure at the exposition, housing the horticultural and agricultural displays.
Exhibits were sparse, when the exposition first opened, but quickly expanded and became major attractions. Electric lights illuminated, and enhanced, the displays by night.
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Mexican cacti in Horticultural Hall
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Horticultural Hall - 600 ft. x 194 ft.
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Rainy and cold weather, during the first two months of the exposition, did little to encourage attendance. Exposition management assured the public that the fair would be a success, once it was fully operational and all displays were installed. Mardi Gras arrived, but failed to bring the flood of visitors promised by the management. By March, of 1885, the exposition appeared finally complete. The Art Hall had opened and proven a success with critics. Demonstrations by the U.S. Life Saving Service, on the exposition's Lake Rubio, drew interested observers. Visitors were able to enjoy the exposition by night, with the installation of arc-light towers outdoors. Still, crowds were far less than expected. The decision to open the exposition during the winter had proven to be a mistake, although logical for the southern climate.
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Frozen fountain, near Horticultural Hall,
February 12th, 1885
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Visitors who entered the Main Building, by the central entrance, were greeted with two of the exposition's prominent exhibits. Immediately inside the entrance was a giant block of solid silver, displayed by the Mexican Government, weighing 5,640 pounds. The second exhibit was in Music Hall, directly facing the visitor, and consisted of one of the world's largest pipe-organs, manufactured by the Pilcher Organ Co. Music Hall stood in the center of the building, dividing the Foreign Government and Foreign & Domestic Industry exhibits. Behind Music Hall, along the entire length of the building, were the Machinery exhibits. Broad stairways, and electric elevators, gave access to the galleries of the building. Two elevators also provided access to the roof of the main tower, above the central entrance, from which a panoramic view of the exposition grounds could be seen.
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Music Hall and Mexican silver - 5,640 lbs.
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Many early visitors to the exposition were disappointed in the almost bare Foreign Government section. Delays in shipping many exhibits to New Orleans caused most foreign displays to arrive in January. The late arrivals did nothing to help the exposition in the popular press, which was publishing stories that were anything but flattering to the foundering fair. However, by February the foreign exhibits began to take on a sense of organization. China constructed an exhibit of lifesize cotton figures, doing the tasks of daily life in China. Mexico and Japan had comprehensive exhibits of their industrious countries. France, Russia, Germany, Austria, and England displayed various examples of decorative art. Siam exhibited cotton fabrics. Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil, Guatemala, and Jamaica showed their natural resources. Belgium was highly praised for its complete and representative exhibits.
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Main Building - from the gallery
(Chinese exhibit at right)
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Altogether, 30 nations were represented at the exposition. Foreign & Domestic industries were represented by scores of manufacturers. Such items as soaps, cereals, and textiles were shown in many shapes, forms and colors. One display represented Lot's wife, created from a large block of solid rock-salt. Furniture, stoves, carpets and china were shown, in an array of displays.
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Heating stove & range exhibit
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Domestic Industry exhibits
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