These rare and amazing vintage photos capture the grandeur of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
Held to celebrate the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, the fair transformed Forest Park into a vast showcase of architecture, industry, culture, and innovation. The images reveal monumental exhibition palaces, elaborate displays from across the United States and the world, construction scenes, and the lively atmosphere of one of the largest world’s fairs ever staged.
The photos offer a fascinating visual record of this landmark event that drew nearly 20 million visitors more than 120 years ago.
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| Worker's hoisting the first piece of staff on the Palace of Varied Industries during construction for the 1904 World's Fair, June 10, 1902 |
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| Carpenters at work on the Palace of Varied Industries during construction for the 1904 World's Fair, 1902 |
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| Workers hoisting a truss for the Palace of Education for the 1904 World's Fair, May 3, 1902 |
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| Workers hoisting the first piece of staff onto the Palace of Varied Industries for the 1904 World's Fair, 1902 |
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| Workers making window sashes for the Palace of Varied Industries during the construction phase for the 1904 World's Fair, circa 1902 |
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| Workers posing for a photo at a 1904 World's Fair construction site, circa 1902 |
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| Artist creating the statue “North Dakota” for display at the 1904 World's Fair, 1903 |
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| The enlarging studio for sculpture created for the 1904 World's Fair in Erie Roundhouse, Weehawken, New Jersey, 1903 |
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| Construction of the Ferris Wheel at the World's Fair, April 19, 1904 |
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| Seventy ton axle of the Ferris Wheel, as delivered to the 1904 World's Fair construction site, 1904 |
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| Billboard at State and Washington Streets in Minneapolis, Minnesota advertising the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis |
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| Bethlehem Steel Company exhibit in the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| British and Irish educational displays, featuring wall panels, framed documents, and glass-topped wooden display cases at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Entrance to Creation on the Pike at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Ferris Wheel at the 1904 World's Fair, Swedish Restaurant in foreground |
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| Ferris Wheel at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Festival Hall, Cascades and Lagoon at the 1904 World's Fair seen from the northwest |
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| Floral Parade of All Nations procession on the Grand Lagoon in front of Festival Hall during the 1904 World's Fair. (Gondola with sign "Visit Asia") |
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| French Auto Exhibit in the Palace of Transportation at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Japanese women in the Japanese Garden at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Missouri Corn Palace display in the Palace of Agriculture at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Missouri Mining exhibit in the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Natural History exhibit at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Natural History exhibit with a blue whale skeleton and model at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Night view of 1904 World's Fair grounds from the DeForest Wireless Telegraphy Tower |
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| Night view of the Palace of Electricity from Festival Hall at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Operators making corsets as part of the Singer Sewing Machine exhibit in the Palace of Manufactures at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Palace of Machinery interior at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Randolph Smith Lyon, Mildred Frances Lyon, Mrs. Montague Lyon (Frances Robnett Smith Lyon), Montague Lyon, Jr., eating ice cream cones at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Stuffed animals at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| Texas Grains and Grasses exhibit in the Palace of Agriculture at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| The Belgian pavilion (Agriculture and Livestock Section) at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| The Belgian pavilion at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| The Chinese exhibit in the Palace of Manufactures at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| View looking across the Palace of Electricity grounds toward the Palace of Machinery at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| View looking north over the Grand Basin towards the Peace Monument (Louisiana Purchase Monument) at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| View on the Ferris Wheel at the 1904 World's Fair |
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| View west from balcony of German Pavilion. East Restaurant Pavilion and Festival Hall, left, Electricity at right, 1904 World's Fair |
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| After the Fair was over. St. Louisans sledding down Art Hill after the 1904 World's Fair was over. The East Restaurant Pavilion and Colonnade of States are still visible in the background, circa 1904 |
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| Wreckage of the Ferris Wheel used at the 1904 World's Fair after demolition, 1906 |
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