Paul Elder and Company

Paul Elder and the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition

Expositions were popular at the turn of the century. Since most people did not have the means to travel, expositions were a way for the exotic corners of the world to come to them. San Francisco's previous fair, the 1894-5 Mid-Winter Exposition, was held in the newly-created Golden Gate Park. The Japanese Tea Garden and adjoining concourse are all that remain of that exposition.

After the ravages of the 1906 disaster, San Francisco was eager to show the world that it was once again a thriving city: downtown had been largely rebuilt by 1909, and before-and-after photos were widely published. San Francisco campaigned heavily against several other cities to hold a 1915 fair to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal and the 400th anniversary of Balboa's "discovery" of the Pacific Ocean.

San Francisco's bid was successful, and the exposition was built in what is now the Marina District. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened on 20 February 1915 to great fanfare. It was a sprawling affair stretching from Fort Mason to the Presidio, with pavilions from every U.S. state and most foreign countries.

Paul Elder had a booth in the Arts Building, designed in part by his old friend and favorite architect, Bernard Maybeck. Maybeck's book on his own Palace of Fine Arts, the only building from the Fair that survives today, was one of ten Exposition-related books that Elder published.

Unfortunately, the show was not profitable for exhibitors such as Elder. Although 18 million people visited the fair, unusally bad weather discouraged many others. Additionally, foreign attendance was well below expectations due to outbreak of World War I. The exposition closed on 4 December 1915.

The Tower of Jewels, PPIE