South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition
Encyclopedia
The South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition, commonly called the Charleston Exposition or the West Indian Exposition, was a regional trade exposition held in Charleston, South Carolina
from December 1, 1901 to June 20, 1902.
held in Atlanta in 1895, a railroad executive, J. H. Averill, advocated holding an exposition in Charleston in the News and Courier. J. C. Hemphill, the editor of the News and Courier, and Frederick C. Wagener, a German immigrant and local businessman, were two early supporters of a World's Fair in Charleston.
In 1900, the Charleston Exposition Company was formed and began soliciting funds. There was support from the business community and the South Carolina General Assembly
allocated USD$50,000, but the Charleston aristocracy felt that the fair was unseemly self-promotion. The Federal government, which had normally contributed funds, did not offer early support. There were no official exhibits from abroad.
Wagener, who was president of the exposition company, suggested that 250 acre (101.2 ha) of his property on the Ashley River
be used for the fair. The company hired a New York architect, Bradford L. Gilbert
, who had been supervising architect for the Cotton States Exposition. Gilbert chose Spanish Renaissance style
with the buildings painted creamy off-white. This led to is being called the "Ivory City." The grounds were divided into an area for Nature and another for Art.
The Exposition faced many challenges. The weather was not good, some exhibits were late in opening, and there was a shortage of funds. President Theodore Roosevelt
delayed his visit from February to April. The attendance was disappointing. Only 675,000 came to the exposition.
After the exposition, the City of Charleston built its Hampton Park
on the eastern portion of the grounds that included the Exposition's formal court. Although it was moved and rebuilt, the bandstand in the park remains. In 1919, the State of South Carolina obtained the western portion. This was used for the new campus of The Citadel
. Lowndes Grove
, which was the Woman's Building in the exposition, remains.
in its exhibit.
The midway had a carnival with thrill rides, a 400 feet (122 m) long painting of the Battle of Manassas, and Eskimo
village. There was a Turkish Parlor with imported cigars and a house of horrors. As with similar expositions there were souvenir
s for sale, which included commemorative medals, pins, and other trinkets.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
from December 1, 1901 to June 20, 1902.
History
To overcome weakening trade with Latin American and the Caribbean and seeing the benefits of fairs like the Cotton States ExpositionCotton States and International Exposition (1895)
The 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition was held at the current Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia. It is most remembered for the speech given by Booker T. Washington on September 18, 1895....
held in Atlanta in 1895, a railroad executive, J. H. Averill, advocated holding an exposition in Charleston in the News and Courier. J. C. Hemphill, the editor of the News and Courier, and Frederick C. Wagener, a German immigrant and local businessman, were two early supporters of a World's Fair in Charleston.
In 1900, the Charleston Exposition Company was formed and began soliciting funds. There was support from the business community and the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
allocated USD$50,000, but the Charleston aristocracy felt that the fair was unseemly self-promotion. The Federal government, which had normally contributed funds, did not offer early support. There were no official exhibits from abroad.
Wagener, who was president of the exposition company, suggested that 250 acre (101.2 ha) of his property on the Ashley River
Ashley River (South Carolina)
The Ashley River is a blackwater / tidal river in South Carolina, rising from the Wassamassaw and Great Cypress Swamps in western Berkeley County. It consolidates its main channel about five miles west of Summerville, widening into a tidal estuary just south of Fort Dorchester...
be used for the fair. The company hired a New York architect, Bradford L. Gilbert
Bradford Gilbert
Bradford Lee Gilbert was a nationally-active architect based in New York City.Gilbert is best known for designing the first steel-framed curtain wall building, the Tower Building, which opened at 50 Broadway in 1889. The Tower Building is considered New York City's first skyscraper...
, who had been supervising architect for the Cotton States Exposition. Gilbert chose Spanish Renaissance style
Architecture of the Spanish Renaissance
Renaissance architecture was that style of architecture which evolved firstly in Florence and then Rome and other parts of Italy as the result of Humanism and a revived interest in Classical architecture...
with the buildings painted creamy off-white. This led to is being called the "Ivory City." The grounds were divided into an area for Nature and another for Art.
The Exposition faced many challenges. The weather was not good, some exhibits were late in opening, and there was a shortage of funds. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
delayed his visit from February to April. The attendance was disappointing. Only 675,000 came to the exposition.
After the exposition, the City of Charleston built its Hampton Park
Hampton Park (Charleston, SC)
Hampton Park is a public park located in peninsular Charleston, South Carolina. At , it is the largest park on the peninsula. It is bordered by The Citadel to the west, Hampton Park Terrace to the south, North Central to the east, and Wagener Terrace to the north.-Colonial Era:The land...
on the eastern portion of the grounds that included the Exposition's formal court. Although it was moved and rebuilt, the bandstand in the park remains. In 1919, the State of South Carolina obtained the western portion. This was used for the new campus of The Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
. Lowndes Grove
Lowndes Grove
The Lowndes Grove, also known as The Grove or Grove Farm, is a house built in about 1786 on the Ashley River in Charleston. It is located on a triangular plot of land bordered by St. Margaret Street, 5th Avenue, and 6th Avenue...
, which was the Woman's Building in the exposition, remains.
Exhibits
The Cotton Palace was a 320 feet (98 m) long building with a 75 feet (23 m) tall dome was the focus of the exposition. The other major buildings were the Palace of Commerce and the Palace of Agriculture. There was a Negro Department its own building. The Woman's Building was in Wagener's Lowndes Grove house. Twenty different states participated in the exposition. Pennsylvania featured the Liberty BellLiberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
in its exhibit.
The midway had a carnival with thrill rides, a 400 feet (122 m) long painting of the Battle of Manassas, and Eskimo
Eskimo
Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
village. There was a Turkish Parlor with imported cigars and a house of horrors. As with similar expositions there were souvenir
Souvenir
A souvenir , memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world...
s for sale, which included commemorative medals, pins, and other trinkets.
External links
- Images from the South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition, 1901-1902, from Special Collections at the College of CharlestonCollege of CharlestonThe College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...