The Louisiana Purchase Exposition

On July 4, 1803 (205 years ago today, if you are counting), President Thomas Jefferson announced the Louisiana Purchase to the American public. The $15 million acquisition doubled the size of the United States and included parts of 15 eventual states. Click here to see a map of the land included Louisiana Purchase.

101 years later, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (or St. Louis World’s Fair) celebrated the centennial of the Purchase. The Exposition opened on April 30, 1904 and saw an estimated 20 million people walk through the gates before closing on December 1, 1904. 50 foreign countries and 43 states (of the then 45) contributed exhibits to the Exposition.

The following images show a sampling of the Arkansas exhibits at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. They were all taken from the Eighth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Mines, Manufacturers and Agriculture and can be found in the Butler Center Photograph Collection.

Arkansas Mines and Metallurgy Exhibit, Louisiana Purchase Exposition; St. Louis, Missouri, 1904.

Arkansas Forestry Exhibit, Louisiana Purchase Exposition; St. Louis, Missouri, 1904.

Arkansas Agricultural Exhibit, Louisiana Purchase Exposition; St. Louis, Missouri, 1904.

Arkansas Exhibit Building, Louisiana Purchase Exposition; St. Louis, Missouri, 1904.

Arkansas World's Fair Board, Louisiana Purchase Exposition; St. Louis, Missouri, 1904.