This week, the Blaine County Fair will exhibit some of the best of Blaine County, then send representatives to the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Fairs.
There was a fair held in St. Louis in 1903-4 in which The Territory of Oklahoma, then lead by Governor T.B. Ferguson and his wife, Elva, was well represented. On April 30, 1903 there was a dedication of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (official name) or St. Louis World’s Fair. April 30, 1803 is the date of the signing of the treaty with France to transfer the Louisiana Purchase. (Guthrie Daily Leader). Some 60,000 were in the Exposition Hall at the Fair when former President Cleveland and then President Theodore Roosevelt commemorated this land purchase that added Oklahoma and much of rest of the West to the United States.
A parade of soldiers including 200 from Oklahoma Territory followed the speeches. The official opening of the Fair was postponed until April 30, 1904 to give foreign governments time to prepare their exhibits. More than 60 countries and 43 of 45 American states maintained exhibition spaces at the fair, which was attended by nearly 19.7 million people. Wikipedia Louisiana Purchase Exposition Oklahoma is honorably represented, not only by its handsome pavilion, but also by its displays in the Agricultural, Horticultural and Mining palaces. Oklahoma was prominently represented in the Terrace of 14 states comprising the Louisiana Purchase. Oklahoma exhibited natural building materials including pillars of gypsum, clear gypsum, limestone and granite Building Materials. Oklahoma’s exhibit in the Agriculture Pavilion showcased many agricultural crops grown in Oklahoma. And Oklahoma exhibited in the horticulture pavilion.
One of the most beautiful pavilions on the Plateau of the States was erected by Oklahoma Territory. It was a twostory pavilion 76 by 70 feet built at a cost of $16,00 World Fair Information. It was filled with newspapers from around Oklahoma and had welcome areas for writing and reading. The Oklahoma name blazed in electric lights above the entrance to the pavilion. The front of the building was surrounded by two-story porticos Image OK Terr Exhibit These exhibits promoted by the Ferguson Administration helped move Oklahoma toward statehood in 1907.