Bird's-Eye View of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition

This bird's-eye view provides a basic layout of the Louisiana Purchase International Exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904. This periodical illustration was printed on pages 678 and 679 of Harper's Weekly magazine, and was an extracted centerfold, as is evident by staple holes in the center crease. The surrounding pages of the magazine included information on the Palaces of Electricity, Machinery, Transportation and Horticulture. The entire image is approximately 13 5/8" wide and 19 inches long, and includes Festival Hall in the center with its two hemispherical lagoons, and other fair buildings radiating out from it. The illustration gradually fades on the edges, eliminating scenery that would distract the viewer from the fair. It is from a relatively distant vantage point, and thus the architectural details are difficult to discern