These Rare Photos From the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis Will Blow Your Mind

By on Fri, Sep 20, 2019 at 8:09 pm

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition (informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair) was the event of the century.

Over the course of about eight months, nearly 19.7 million people visited Forest park to see exhibitions from more than 60 countries and the many, many structures that were built for the event.

Dig into these pictures provided by the Missouri Historical Society to check out some of the completely mind-blowing scenes that attendees got to see in St. Louis way back in 1904.

Photos by the Missouri Historical Society https://mohistory.org
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"BALDWIN'S AIRSHIP." (SHIP READY FOR TAKEOFF WITH ROY KNABENSHUE STANDING ON THE FRAME. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EXHIBIT AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR). Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
"BALDWIN'S AIRSHIP." (SHIP READY FOR TAKEOFF WITH ROY KNABENSHUE STANDING ON THE FRAME. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EXHIBIT AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR).

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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1904 WORLD'S FAIR WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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VIEW WEST FROM THE WEST PAVILION INCLUDING JERUSALEM AND THE FERRIS WHEEL AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
VIEW WEST FROM THE WEST PAVILION INCLUDING JERUSALEM AND THE FERRIS WHEEL AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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ELEPHANT MADE FROM ALMONDS IN THE CALIFORNIA EXHIBIT OF THE PALACE OF HORTICULTURE AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
ELEPHANT MADE FROM ALMONDS IN THE CALIFORNIA EXHIBIT OF THE PALACE OF HORTICULTURE AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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TYROLEAN ALPS ON THE PIKE AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
TYROLEAN ALPS ON THE PIKE AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR.

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1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW FROM THROUGH FERRIS WHEEL. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW FROM THROUGH FERRIS WHEEL.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW OF CASCADES AND FESTIVAL HALL Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW OF CASCADES AND FESTIVAL HALL

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1904 WORLD'S FAIR ILLINOIS BUILDING WITH FERRIS WHEEL BEHIND Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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1904 WORLD'S FAIR ILLINOIS BUILDING WITH FERRIS WHEEL BEHIND

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VIEW ALONG THE STREET (LINDELL AVENUE) LEADING TO THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING . SITE LATER OCCUPIED BY FOREIGN STATE BUILDINGS. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, LATER BROOKINGS HALL, UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
VIEW ALONG THE STREET (LINDELL AVENUE) LEADING TO THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING . SITE LATER OCCUPIED BY FOREIGN STATE BUILDINGS. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, LATER BROOKINGS HALL, UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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SIMMONS HARDWARE COMPANY EXHIBIT "MOVING PICTURE IN HARDWARE" IN THE PALACE OF MANUFACTURES AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
SIMMONS HARDWARE COMPANY EXHIBIT "MOVING PICTURE IN HARDWARE" IN THE PALACE OF MANUFACTURES AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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CREATION ON THE PIKE AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR, 8 JUNE 1904. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
CREATION ON THE PIKE AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR, 8 JUNE 1904.

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1904 WORLD'S FAIR TOWN HALL. Horizontal, black and white image showing the Town Hall, with the Civic Pride Monument between staircases, in the Model City area. Photo probably by Jessie Tarbox Beals. The Palace of Education is in the background. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR TOWN HALL. Horizontal, black and white image showing the Town Hall, with the Civic Pride Monument between staircases, in the Model City area. Photo probably by Jessie Tarbox Beals. The Palace of Education is in the background.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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1904 WORLD'S FAIR OPENING DAY CROWDS Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR OPENING DAY CROWDS

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1904 WORLD'S FAIR BIRDSEYE VIEW Horizontal, black and white image showing bird's eye view of northeast corner of fairgrounds from the DeForest Wireless Telegraph Tower with the top of the Palace of Manufactures on left and Municipal Street of the Model City in center. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR BIRDSEYE VIEW Horizontal, black and white image showing bird's eye view of northeast corner of fairgrounds from the DeForest Wireless Telegraph Tower with the top of the Palace of Manufactures on left and Municipal Street of the Model City in center.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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OBSERVATION WHEEL AND THE U.S.A. LIFE SAVING STATION AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR. (FERRIS WHEEL). Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
OBSERVATION WHEEL AND THE U.S.A. LIFE SAVING STATION AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR. (FERRIS WHEEL).

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1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW TO EAST FROM THE FERRIS WHEEL Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW TO EAST FROM THE FERRIS WHEEL

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1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW OF FAIR LOOKING WEST FROM RESTAURANT PAVILION. Horizontal, black and white image showing the view from the German building with the east restaurant pavilion in left foreground, the Festival hall in left center, the Palace of Electricity at right center and the Palace of Machinery in center background. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR VIEW OF FAIR LOOKING WEST FROM RESTAURANT PAVILION. Horizontal, black and white image showing the view from the German building with the east restaurant pavilion in left foreground, the Festival hall in left center, the Palace of Electricity at right center and the Palace of Machinery in center background.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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1904 WORLD'S FAIR TYROLEAN ALPS. The Tyrolean Alps featured mountains that rose over 100 feet. The Tyrolean Alps attraction cost 25 cents admission and contained a restaurant, beer hall and Tyrolean village served by a narrow gauge railroad. In the center left is Blarney Castle which was part of the Irish Village attraction on the Pike and cost 25 cents admission. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
1904 WORLD'S FAIR TYROLEAN ALPS. The Tyrolean Alps featured mountains that rose over 100 feet. The Tyrolean Alps attraction cost 25 cents admission and contained a restaurant, beer hall and Tyrolean village served by a narrow gauge railroad. In the center left is Blarney Castle which was part of the Irish Village attraction on the Pike and cost 25 cents admission.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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VIEW OF 1904 WORLD'S FAIR FROM FESTIVAL HALL TOWARD NORTHEAST SHOWING THE GRAND BASIN Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
VIEW OF 1904 WORLD'S FAIR FROM FESTIVAL HALL TOWARD NORTHEAST SHOWING THE GRAND BASIN

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THE UNITED STATES PLAYING CARDS EXHIBIT IN THE PALACE OF VARIED INDUSTRIES AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR. Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
the Missouri Historical Society
THE UNITED STATES PLAYING CARDS EXHIBIT IN THE PALACE OF VARIED INDUSTRIES AT THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR.

Find out more about this photo at MoHistory.org.
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