SFPL With the life of the Exposition now over the hill, August opened with a display of the exposition’s inspiration. The battleships “Missouri”, “Wisconsin” and “Ohio” joined the “Oregon” in San Francisco Bay by way of the Panama Canal. It was the “Oregon’s” two-month voyage from San Francisco to Florida, by way of around Cape Horn, to join the war against Spain, which provided the onus for the building of a canal, which could bridge the US Navy. Over the next few days, the crews participated in Exposition activities and guests were allowed to tour the ships anchored off the Marina. The National German-American Alliance celebrated their annual meeting at the Exposition and August 5th was deemed German-American Day. The city of Richmond celebrated their 10th anniversary on August 7th. The department of Manufactures and Varied Industries had their day on August 10th. The day was celebrated with band performances and speeches. The Exposition President brought to everyone’s attention that the fair was enjoying economic success of approximately $12,000 net per day. The speaker from Japan, Jiro Harada, used his time to promote the retention of skilled labor across the world where technology and affordability threatened the quality of future products. The “new South” was celebrated on August 13th. Dixie Day, as it was called, brought attention to the South’s new economic model of factories and global commerce. August 14th was action packed as more than a half dozen special days shared it. Attendance for the day breached 122,000. The day was presented at a discount to children and many Zone concessions were free to children. The Knights of Columbus, International Yachting Regatta, National Decathlon and San Joaquin Valley were among the others designated to the 14th’s festivities. Such a crowd amassed and such distractions were presented that sixty-five unlucky children were separated form their parents and had to be reunited by day’s end. While not held on Exposition grounds, the opportunity was taken to invite the many dignitaries present from Central and South America to a lunch at the St. Francis Hotel, on August 23rd. The topics of the day revolved around the unification of the Americas in the growth and development to come in the near future. Some European members were also on hand. The table was symbolically shaped as a large “A” for the Americas. 
SFPL The Lincoln Highway Party arrived on August 25th, after a three-month journey by motor vehicle from New York. The Lincoln Highway was brand new and the trip was used as publicity with photo and video cameras in tow. The Highway crossed 12 states and over 3,300 miles, starting in Times Square and ending in Lincoln Park, San Francisco. This was the first transcontinental automobile highway built in the US and named after President Lincoln. As in July, August was packed full of over one hundred special days and attractions to coincide with the height of attendance and travel in the summer months. Continue on to see what happened in September of the Exposition Year Return to July of the Exposition Year Return to The Year of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition |
Last updated: July 15, 2015