Louisiana Purchase Exposition

The Panama–Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair held in San Francisco, California, from February 20 to December 4, 1915. The exposition celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal and showcased San Francisco's recovery from the devastating 1906 earthquake. The fair covered 636 acres along the northern shore of the city, in what is now the Marina District.

The exposition featured numerous exhibits and attractions, including the C. P. Huntington, the first steam locomotive purchased by Southern Pacific Railroad, and a telephone line that allowed people across the continent to hear the Pacific Ocean. The fair also hosted the 1915 American Grand Prize and Vanderbilt Cup auto races.

One of the most iconic structures at the exposition was the Tower of Jewels, a 435-foot tower adorned with 102,000 glass gems that sparkled in the sunlight and were illuminated at night by a searchlight battery. The fair also highlighted technological advancements, such as the first demonstration of a transcontinental telephone call and the promotion of wireless telegraphy.

The Panama–Pacific International Exposition attracted over 18 million visitors and left a lasting legacy in San Francisco, with some of its architectural and landscape features still visible today.