Celebrating the Louisiana Purchase

Industrial Advances

  • About this Collection

    Organizers wanted the 1904 World's Fair to showcase the world's newest technologies (electricity, automobiles, airplanes, etc.) and the industrial research surrounding these innovations. Their objective was to demonstrate the many areas where progress had been made in the years since the signing of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty.

    Exhibit halls were filled with displays of 'bigger and better' machinery and 'labor saving' devices. Working displays showed new mining, transportation, communication, and farming techniques.

    Congresses discussed new research that was helping the world progress in agriculture, manufacturing, science and medicine.

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    Palace of Transportation, National Car Coupler exhibit

    The Palace of Transportation was the second-largest exhibit building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

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    Beginning of travel by steam -- the tea-kettle motor -- and 1904 locomotive, World's Fair, St. Louis

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    Great automobile display inside the Transportation building

    Automobiles are among the few kinds of exhibits which mark the progress that has been made since the Columbian Exposition of Chicago. Such a display of them as shown in this picture was impossible seven years ago, because the automobile was then not enough improved for common use. Automobiles and airships, it is often said are the two new things of the St. Louis Fair. On Automobile Day, it is said over 2,000 autos were upon the Exposition grounds. This view shows the great number of them occupying a space extending the entire width of the Palace of Transportation, a total distance of 500 feet. Machines of all styles are represented, using various means of propulsion. There are racers capable of distancing any express train and other machines made for cross country work and pleasure trips. Every stage in the development of the automobile is represented.

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    Illumination, from wireless telegraph tower

    Part of the adventure of visiting the Wireless Tower at the Fair was the 300 foot ride up to the top on an elevator.

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    Bullock generator (3,500 kilowatts) and 'Allis-Chalmers' 5,000 b.p. engine, World's Fair

    This is just one example of all the new machinery that was displayed at the Fair. Imagine what it was like seeing these new machines for the first time.

    This is the most notable of the many fine exhibits in the Machinery building. The generator was built in Cincinnati, the engine was built in Milwaukee, and they were erected and assembled here without the need of any special appliance except one 8-inch threaded rod used to force the hub of the generator upon the engine shaft. From the moment when steam was first admitted to the engine, both engine and generator have been equal to full duty.

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    Palace of Manufactures, with DeForest tower on right

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    Pamphlet cover : Great Anthracite Coal Mine, World's Fair, St. Louis, 1904

    Owned and operated by the Anthracite Mining Exhibit Comapny of Scranton, Pa.

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    Tunnel in Transportation building

    Plaque in photo reads, 'Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel extension to New York and Long Island showing full section iron tube tunnel.'

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