See San Diego’s World’s Fair in color: Panama-California International Exposition (1915-1917)

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The new Panama-California World’s Fair at San Diego

The reopening of the San Diego Exposition with gorgeous scenic beauty in a matchless all-the-year-around climate

San Diego Exposition in Southern California, which took place last year simultaneously with the great World’s Fair in San Francisco, has reopened greater than ever under a new name — The Panama-California International Exposition.

In this delightful city in Southern California, in addition to its own attractions of last year, there have been gathered all the most valuable features of the San Francisco Exposition.

1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego Foreign and Domestic Industries Building
Panama-California World’s Fair – Foreign and Domestic Industries Building

Sixteen foreign nations have now sent their exhibits, and the United States Government has moved its great displays down from the northern fair. It is because of the generous participation of the great foreign nations that the new San Diego World’s Fair is now called an International Exposition.

The famous isthmus amusement section, so popular in last year’s San Diego Exposition, has been entirely rebuilt, and the most popular features of the San Francisco amusement zone have been added, with many new diversions not before seen in either exposition. Several of the executives who demonstrated special genius at San Francisco have brought their talents to the new San Diego enterprise.

The exposition will run through until the first of the next year, and will be the scene, from time to time, of many special events of national importance.

1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego Foreign Arts Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition – Foreign Arts Building

There is, perhaps, no spot in the whole world so peculiarly well fitted for an all-the year-around exposition as San Diego. Besides, the fascinating scenic value of its rich and variegated tropical vegetation, it has a climate not too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. The architectural design and color effects of the buildings are exquisite.

With Europe’s doors closed to tourists on account of the war, the exposition will draw heavy attendance throughout the entire year.

– Text from the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia) – March 19, 1916

1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego Russia and Brazil Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition – San Diego’s World’s Fair – Russia and Brazil Building
Panama-California World's Fair - San Diego Puente Cabrillo
Balboa Park – Puente Cabrillo
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego Pillared court on El Prado
1916 Panama-California Exposition – San Diego Pillared court on El Prado
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego La Laguna De Las Flores
1916 Panama-California Exposition – La Laguna De Las Flores
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego Interior of the San Joaquin Building
Panama-California World’s Fair – Interior of the San Joaquin Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego El Prado
Panama-California World’s Fair – El Prado
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego Canadian Government Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition – Canadian Government Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego California State Building
Balboa Park – California State Building at the San Diego’s World’s Fair
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego California State Buiiding
Panama-California World’s Fair – California State Buiiding
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego Botanical Pavilion and Gardens
1916 Panama-California Exposition – Botanical Pavilion and Gardens
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1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego's World's Fair - Botanical Gardens
Panama-California World’s Fair – Botanical Gardens
1916 Panama-California Exposition - Plaza de Panama from a pergola
1916 Panama-California Exposition – Plaza de Panama from a pergola
1916 Panama-California Exposition - Plaza de Panama - Kern and Tulare Counties Building
Plaza de Panama – Kern and Tulare Counties Building at the 1915 San Diego’s World’s Fair
San Diego's World's Fair - 1916 Panama-California Exposition - Pigeons on the Plaza de Panama
1916 Panama-California Exposition – Pigeons on the Plaza de Panama
1916 Panama-California Exposition - El Prado looking toward main entrance
Balboa Park – El Prado looking toward main entrance
1916 Panama-California Exposition - California Building and entrance to Plaza De California
1916 Panama-California Exposition – California Building and entrance to Plaza De California
San Diego's World's Fair - 1916 Panama-California Exposition - Birds-eye view from Tower California State Building
Balboa Park – Birds-eye view from Tower California State Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition - Vista from US Government Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition – Vista from US Government Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition - Balboa Park view from New Mexico Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition – View from New Mexico Building
1916 Panama-California Exposition - The Painted Desert
1916 Panama-California Exposition – The Painted Desert
1916 Panama-California Exposition - San Diego's World's Fair - The Great Open Air Organ
1916 Panama-California Exposition – San Diego The Great Open Air Organ

San Diego’s World’s Fair: Panama-California International Exposition, Official Publication

Panama-California International Exposition - San Diego 1916 - Cover
Official Publication – Panama California International Exposition San Diego 1916 – Hand-Colored (The Albertype Company, Brooklyn, NY)

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