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The Centennial Exposition Now
Open to the rub le.
A LONG LIST OF ATTRACTIONS
The Sight, aad IVlnt It Colt, to Seo
Theta—A Uoncrtpti-aii of the Ground,
•nd Building,— the Art Exhibit the Fin*
ent Ever Brought to the South—Displays
of the DUTarout Staten—Addrein of Pres
ident J. XV. Hiotnai.
'•Ladies and Gentlemen —On Jane 1,
1896, these grounds and the buildings
erected thereon'were dedicated to the
honor and glory,of Tennessee, in com
memoration of fin event which trans
pired on June 1, 1796, and as tribute to
the men and women who endured the
hardships and braved the dangers of
frontier life in the wilderness west of
the Alleghanies, that they might found
this great common wealth.
"They loved the banner of. our coun
try, with its little clus'er of 15 stars;
and the lapse of 100 years has not im
paired the honor, integrity or patriot
ism of the people ot Tennessee; for we
love the same banner, witn its glorious
‘ i1 1 r *
iM X- '/
b J [I
constellation of 45 stars, representing «•>
sovereign states, which together con
stitute the greatest nation in the world.
••The objects of this Centennial expo
sition are to commemorate the past,
present the advantages of the present
and inspire hope for the future—the
past, the present, the future of Tennes
see—objects so laudible that the enter
prise has received the approval of the
government of the United States, con
gress having appropriated $130,000 that
the general government might be prop
erly represented by a grand object les
son, showing the progress of the nation
during the past 120 years. It has also
been approved by the authorities of the
state of Tennessee, the legislature hav
ing appropriated $50,000 in order that
the history, the products and the re
sources of the state might be properly
presented. The couuty of Davidson and
city of Nashville, realizing the honor
and advantage of having this grand
centennial jubilee within their borders,
have donated $150,000; and other cities,
counties and states, corporations, firms
and 10,000 individuals have augmented
these appropriations and donations until
a grand total of $1,000.00Q has been ex
pended in preparing for this exposition.
••Men in all ages have celebrated
great events by holidays, triumphal
processions, grand festivals and tower
ing monuments, and as Tennessee was
M'-BaMOyl Lj- asss
THE WOMAN’S BUILDING.
the first state admitted into the Union
formed from territory ceded to the gen
eral government, it is appropriate that I
we celebrate our centennial anniversary
by having a great exposition, showing j
the world that we have kept pace with
our sister states and other nations in
the progress of the age—in all the tri
umphs and glories of civilization.
•‘While this celebration is prompted
by reverence for the past, it is also
prompted by a desire to so advertise
and proclaim our advantages that thous
ands from other states and other na
tions will come to see w 'at we have ac
complished and realize the marvelous
wealth of our undeveloped resources.
“The past century has not been one
of continuous peace and prosperity, but
there have been periods of differences
and dangers that tried men’s souls, yet
there has been more of prosperity than
of adversity, the improvements of the
century have been wonderful, and as
we stand upon the vantage ground of
the present and look back to the pioneer
days of Tennessee, we are proud of the :
record and achievements of the past,
and reioice in the advantages of the
present, and it is hoped that the youth
of the land will so study these’advan
tages as illustrated in the grand object
lesson of this exposition, that they will
be inspired to undertake still greater
achievements and strive to reach perfeo
tion’s haignH,'wa:o\ are xesplendoal
with the gionos raflevited from the eter
nal hills wkersii dwdJtacfhT Author of
ell w slom and/ all power. Who rules
ever the destinias of men and nations,
and Whose Llessing we invoke upon our
exp isition, oar state, oar country and
np-i. the nations of the earth. From
po e to pole, from zone to zone, over
trackless ocean, from laud to 1 tnd, may
the angelic anthem reverberate:
•"Glory to Gkxl in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men.”
Tenneaaee’a Birthday.
The inspiration of Tennessee’s great
exposition, now formally opened to the
public with appropriate ceremonies, is
embodied in the speech of President
Thomas above quoted. It has been the
custom of kings and emperors to com
memorate their achievements by massive
piles of granite or polished marble shaft;
Byron says "old Cheops built a pyramid
to keep his mem’ry whole and mummy
hid.’’ It is fitting that a great com
monwealth should celebrate its first
bir! hday by an exhibit of its material
resources so displayed as to reveal the
culture that is reached only iu the high
est civilization.
The Tennessee Centennial exposition
has been fortunate in its selection of
the designs and names of many of its
bail lings. It was a subject of uufavor-
PRESIDENT J. W. THOMAS.
able comment that Atlanta copied Chi
cago so closely in the names of her
but.dings. Nashville has been more
original. Reproductions of the Parthe
non, the Erechtheon, the Tower of Bab
el, the Rialto, and Cheops pyramid give
a hint of the classic taste that has pre
vailed in providing buildings for an ex
position of material things.
Now that the gates have been thrown
open to the world, and the great enter
prise auspiciously launched, people are
beginning to ask themselves two lead
ing questions: (1) What is there to
see? (2) What does it cost? To which
the faithful chronicler must make an
swer: Almost everything; almost any
thing. You can see all you have eyes
And time to see; it will cost you any
thing you please.
Mr. Charles E. Harman of Atlanta,
general passenger agent of the Western
and Atlantic railroad, witnessed the
opening ceremonies.
Mr. Harman was a director in the
Cotton States and International exposi
tion at Atlanta, and therefore viewed
the Tennessee Centennial buildings and
grounds, in comparison with the build
ings and grounds of the exposition at
Atlanta. He admits the grounds and
buildings are finer than the grounds
and buildings at Atlanta, but claims
the general picturesqe effect of the At
lanta grounds was greater than the
efft' t at Nashville.
I The buildings are all covered with
wh te staff and are architecturally
■ beautiful.
I a says the Parthenon is the most
bea- .tiful building he has ever seen in
the United States, with the exception
of the new Library building at Wash
ington, D. O.
Grounds and Buildings.
Before beginning a tour of the build
ings a glance at the whole cannot but
be interesting.
The grounds selected consist of 200
acres lying in the western portion of
the city and were formerly known as
Wed Side park. They can be reached
by three lines of electric and one of
steam cars. By such means the trip to
the fair can be made from the hotels
and business portions of the city in 8
minutes, or the distance may be cov
ered on foot, through the residential
part of the city in 20 minutes.
The grounds have been so improved
as to make them most attractive and
suitable for exposition purposes. The
artificial lakes, arbors and pavilions, to
gether with the grouping of the build
ings, present an aspect that is wonder
fully pleasing. When the millions of
plants and flowers shall lend their
beauty and fragrance to the scene it
1 will be truly enchanting.
The main buildings of the exposition
art 15 In trumber, and the exh bits' have
been divided into 15 specific classes.
The builuings a-o covered with staff,
and the Waite City of Chicago, that
has lingered so long in the memory
with the gorgeousness of a dream, will
have a rival in a lother White Cry that
has risen on the banks of the Cu über
laud to charm for a brief season the
vision of hundreds of thousands.
Exhibit of Fine Art,.
The largest and most elaborate build
ing is the Parthenon. It is the center
piece of the exposition and is an exact
reproduction of the Parthenon at
Athens. The naves are in the shape of
the great Greek crosses, forming a
square gallery at either end and two
apartments, or alcovei, in the center.
At these ends broad doors open out upon
the double columned porticoes. There
are no windows in the building. The
light furnished comas from the roof,
which is, in fact, one long window, or
skylight, of itself.
This building is the only one not con
structed with staff. It i, built of brick
and is entirely fireproof, as it is the re
pository of priceless treasures. Directly
in front of this building stands the col
lossal figure of Pallas Athene, by Miss
zEuid Yandell, a daughter of the late
Dr. L. P. Yandell of Louisville, who
was a Tennesseean. The figure is an
exact renroductiou of the one that
crowned the hili of Athens. This copy
is 25 feet high, although the original
was 70 feet. Standing, as it does, iu
front of the main entrance to the Par
thenon, it occupies, without a doubt, the
finest position in the park. The statue
was made in Paris and recently shipped,
as Miss Yarnell has been pursuing her
studies abroad for the past two years.
The Parthenon is appropriately de
voted exclusively to the fine arts. Peo
ple who love pictures (and who does
not?) will be pleased to know that the
art exhibit is one of the finest ever seen
in the south, the majority of the can
vasses being well worthy of a place un
der the classic dome that shelters them.
Many of the old masters are represented,
as well as the modern painters of this
country and abroad, who have distin
guished themselves. Here may be seen
pictures by Raphael, Corregio, Titian,
Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Murillo; and of
later date Huguet, Mussouier, Troyon,
Corot and others.
Whether the art exhibit has been pre
pared with a special view to attracting
the teachers ot the south, whose vaca
tions will occur during the exposition,
I do not know: this much is certain,
that thousands of them have already
turned their eyes towards the Parthe
non, and that the resorts they usually
honor with their presence will miss
them this summer.
The hanging of the pictures was di
rected by Mr. Leon Roecker of Chicago,
who is iu charge of the collection. Mr.
- •'?* •
• THE PARTHENON.
F. Hopkinson Smith, so favorably
known as artist and author, is one of
the art judges for the exposition.
The Commerce Building.
The Commerce building (happily
named) is one of the largest on the
grounds. This was called Manufactu
rers and Liberal Arts at Chicago and
Atlanta, and it will contain the same
character of exhibits. It is situated on
the western side of the park. The build
ing measures 591 by 256 feet, and a
great dome rises in the middle to a
height of 175 feet. The central pavil
ion is two stories in height, the second
story forming a gallery on either side
141 by 160 feet, overlooking the nave,
and is reached by four broad stairways,
one at each end of the four corners.
The general style is based on the Co
rinthian and lonic orders of the Greco-
Roman.
In this building may be found the
finished products of the leading manu
facturers of the world. Utility is
stamped on every article, but so artistic
is the arrangement that one wonders if
manufacturers have all turned artists,
and if they have wrought for pleasure
only and not profit.
The Auditorium.
Just south of the Parthenon and with
in easy reach of the main entrance is the
Auditorium, which is one of the most
impressive buildings on the grounds.
The intention is to use it for the meet
ings of large bodies. Many conven
tions which are to be held by various
societies have determined to take ad
vantage of the opportunity to attend
the exposition, and their sessions will
be held in the Auditorium. It is also
proposed to hold parliaments similar to
those held in Chicago during the
World’s Fair. The capacity of the
building is about 7,000 people. -The de
sign is colonial in form and lonic in
treatment. Four porticoes, facing the
different points of the compass, give
the floor a shape resembling a short
cross, except for the circular colonnades
connecting at each corner, forming a
desirable promenade and restful place
for weary sightseers, while the roof
furnishes a beautiful balcony, which
not only adds to the charm of the de
sign, but in addition affords a vantage
point for viewing outdoor displays and
pageants. The interior dimensions are
290 by 110 feet. The tower is 140 feet
high.
The Machinery Buildlag.
The Machinery building, which is
520 by 124 feet, is a happy combination
of solllity and foroi It is a structure
of the Roman-Dorio order. It is the
first building that greets the visitor as
he enters the grounds. It is situated
on a terrace, and in order that it may
be pleasant and cool on warm days the
boilers and great engines are situated
in a power house separate from the
main building. The roof is high and
the interior is commodious. Shade
trees grow on three sides, and the
powerhouse is almost hidden from view
in the foliage. The arrangement of
the floor leads to three main entrances,
marked by imposing porticoes, with six
columns each, crowned by gables sculp
tured iu high relief iu appropriate de
signs. It is 68 feet to the top of the
roof. The north end of the structure
borders on the lake.
Transportation Building.
Between the Commerce and Agri
cultural buildings, west of the Parthe
non, is the Transportation building. On
one side of it lies Lake Watauga, aud
on the other is a long, shady avenue.
The dimensions of this building are 400
by 120 feet. Railroad tracks have been
laid through it, with entrances from
the north for engines and trains. The
remainder of the floor space is divided
into blocks of different sizes for the re
ception of smaller vehicles aud other
displays. Simplicity is the feature of
the design selected for the Transporta
tion building. A most pleasing effect
has been obtained without the use of
a single column, merely iu the group
ing of the masses and proper propor
tioning. AU structural ornamentation
is in the most refined classical style,
brought into strong relief by the wall
service, to which it lends beauty in
charm in return.
The Agricultural Building.
One of the finest buildings on the
grounds is the Agricultural building,
on a sloping elevation north of Lake
Watauga. The principal dome rises 100
feet at the center, and with six smaller
domes, appropriately placed, the pro
portions appear especially pleasing.
The style of architecture is renaissance,
and the dimensions are 525 by 175 feet.
The principal doors, front aud rear, are
under arch effects, while the end and
entrances pass through porticoes. Glass
is used in the domes, and thus the light
on the exhibits will be strong and thor
oughly diffused. The staff on the exte
rior lends a charm and brilliancy to
the design that would not otherwise
have been secured, and the ornamenta
tion aud statuary, especially over the
south door, are handsome.
The state of Tennessee will place its
exhibit under the magnificent dome, a
spacious place. By the way, the visi
tors must look up here, for the dome
is strikingly decorated. The effects,
wrought with grains, are wonderful.
Messrs. Allison, the chief, and J. Tuy-
lor Stratton, the assistant chief, have a
department to make them feel proud.
Tennessee is one of the great agricult
ural states of the south and it is only
proper that the farms should take a
leading place in this exposition. There
will be fine displays of fruits, grains,
cotton, tobacco and grasses under the
dome. Liberal prizes are offered by the
department. The people of Davidson,
the capitol county, to whom so much is
due for the great success of the exposi
tion, will have their headquarters and
make their exhibits in this building.
The state commission, headed by Gov
ernor Robert L. Taylor, have recog
nized the superior importance of the
agricultural interests and have provided
handsome headquarters in this build
ing and will extend the oldtime south
ern hospitality to all visitors. The
chief of this department is Colonel T.
F. P. Allison, who has so ably served
the state for the last four years as com
missioner of agriculture.
Sister states will have representation
in this building. The Seaboard Air
Line is making an elaborate display of
cotton, grains, grasses, tobacco and
fruits from the states through which it
passes. One of the novelties here to
many visitors will be the outfit of a
turpentine farm, still and all.
The Negro Building.
Another building that deserves more
than passing mention is the Negro
building, which is situated on the east
side of Lake Watauga. It is a massive
and imposing structure, constructed
with a view of accommodating the vast
variety of exhibits which the negro race
will contribute. Its contents, showing
specimens of work done by the negro in
all the walks of life, will tell a great
story of moral and mental progress in
the last 50 years. The negroes of the
south have the greatest opportunity
ever offered them to exhibit the history
of the past and the hopes and possibili
ties of the future.
The Children's Building;.
she Children’s building occupies an
interval between the Administration
and the Woman’s buildings. The chil
dren of Tennessee by their own efforts
raised the money to pay for the con
struction of their building. Tne design
is handsome, and the interior arrange
ment is especially adapted to the uses
for which it is designed. Only such ex
hibits as will amuse and instruct the
young will be admitted. The school
system of Tennessee will be fully repre
sented, excelling any former exhibit of
thls ‘character and showing the stand
ing of the schools of the state. The
practical, everyday work in the schools
will be demonstrate i by exhibition or
specimens of work by pupils on wall
space and on tables representing all
branches taught.
The interest taken in this department
by school superintendents and teachers
throughout the state indicates that,
aside from the various amusement fea
tures, the Children's building will be
one of the m >st popular aud instructive
attractions of the exposition. The
largest room will bo devoted to exer
cises for children. Toys and unique ar
ticles from all nations will form an
other interesting exhibit, and, in fact,
everything calculated to amuse, please
aud instruct children and to encourage
and stimulate stuiyand advancement
will be found in its proper place. In the
rear of the building will be a b'autiful
grassy au.t well shaied plot, in which
deer and other pot animds will have a
share in the amusement of their little
friends, and in front there will boa tall
tower, with silver chimes iu the belfry,
bought also with money raised by the
children.
Sliolby County's Building.
Oue of the most remarkable and
unique of the centennial buildings is
that erected by Shelby county and the
■ ■■■
- MRS. VAN LEER KIRKMAN.
«ity of Memphis, being a reproduction
and adaptation of the pyramid of
Cheops, erected 3,090 years before the
Christian era, au i antedating the Par
thenon some 2,500 years. It is about
one sixth of the original size, being 115
feet on its base line, 13.) feet on its an
gle and 10) feet 011 its perpendicular
line. The interior is a vast hall, 85 feet
square and 50 feet high, with galleries
all around 15 feet in width. This is the
first time since the building of the pyra
mids by the Egyptians that au attempt
by any architect has been made to re
produce them, and it will therefore nec
essarily attract attention. In this ar
tistic structure Shelby county, of which
Memphis is the county seat, will display
her cotton and farm products and her
manufactures. Memphis on the Missis
sippi will thus revive the ancient city
from which it derives its name.
The History Buildlug.
The History building is an adaptation
of the Erechtheon, the venerable temple
of Athens that stood near the Parthe
non on the Acropolis. It contains relics
and articles sacredly preserved by the
Tennessee Historical society, the Co
lonial Dames, the Confederate Veter
ans and the Grand Army of the Repub-
re: _
'j Ol
MINERALS AND FORESTRY.
lie. The building contains about 4,200
square feet, divided into five compart
ments, one of each of which is set apart
for history and antiquities, the Confed
erate Veterans, the Grand Army of the
Republic, the Colonial Dames and
Daughters of the Revolutipn combined
and one for miscellaneous contributions.
Tim Electricity Buildin*'.
Whi’e many of the buildings suggest
in architecture the art of ancient Greece,
the Electricity building is modeled after
the tower of Babel, a clever idea cer
tainly. This will prove one of the im
posing features of the exposition, for
the spiral edifice will be brilliantly illu
minated at night with new electrical
devices.
Vanity Fair.
The amusement row at every world’s
fair since -he Chicago exposition has
been known as the Midway, in honor
of the Midway plaisance, along which
these concessions were grouped at Chi
cago. But the Tennessee centennial
has found a new name for the amuse
ment quarter.
The place set apart for them is called
Vanity Fair, after the show mentioned
in (‘Pilgrim’s Progress,” which was
seen by Christian in his journey through
life.
In the list of attractions is the giant
saw, is igaae respects an improve*
ment on the F: rrh wheel, shoot the
chute, German village, Chinese village,
Chinese dragon show, Cuban village,
cyclorama of Gettysburg, Caboret du
Neaut, Casino, Old Vienna., Mystic
Maze, Palace of Illusions, ostrich farm,
Colorado gold mine, old plantation,
German & Boone’s trained wild ani
mals, streets of Cairo, Moorish pul
.ace, haunted swing, whaleback sea
wave, electric scenic theater, Pompey’s
pillar, camera obscura, money illusion,
Venetian canal and many more. Van
ity Fair occupies the western portion of
the park, beyond the line of the Com
merce and Transportation buildings.
The Woman's Building.
The architecture cf the Woman’s
building is a partial counterpart of The
Hermitage, the house of President An
drew Jackson, situated near Nashville.
Added to the colonial style are sugges
tions of the Greek school of architec
ture, producing an unusually beautiful
and artistic effect. It is situated south
of the Auditorium, at the edge of a
shady grove of trees. Light splendid
columns hold the roof above the por
tico, and higher still an observatory,
surrounded by columns and highly or
namented, crowns the whole. A woman,
Mrs. Sarah Ward-Oonley, is the archi
tect, and it will be managed entirely by
women under the direction of Mrs. Van
Leei’ Kirkman, the president of the
woman’s board. Within the doors a ro
tunda extends through the two stories,
with a grand staircase leading up from
the rear, passing a magnificent circular
window of many colors. In this large
space, or rotunda, there will be playing
fountains and palms and statuary in
rich luxuriance. At the left of the en
trance is the assembly hall for con
gresses and public meetings. Other
rooms are devoted to the arts and in
dustries, to patents, books and musical
compositions, painting, sculpture, ce
ramics and china painting, embroidery,
model cooking, education and the work
of women exclusively of every charac
ter.
Mrs. Van Leer Kirkman, president of
the woman’s department of the Ten
nessee exposition, assisted by Mrs. G.
H. Ratterman, chairman of woman’s
patents, has prepared the most unique
exhibition of woman’s work over con
ceived.
In one room of the Woman’s build
ing there stands a high horse, upon
which there is every trapping invented
for the horse by woman.
Accommodation*.
A very interesting point to all who
intend to visit Nashville is the accom
modation and expense. This has not
been overlooks I and the official Cen
tennial bureau of registration and pub
lic comfort affords the public every fa
cility for securing accommodations in
advance. Ail that is necessary is to
write to the chief, Mr. Wnarton J. Al
len; tell him what you want and what
you want to pay for board, and he will
tell you where to get it. He is a well
known business mau of the city.
All telegrams and letters addressed
care of this bureau will be promptly
delivered by its special messengers. All
visitors will be welcomed and any in
formation will be cheerfully given.
The following rates will be charged:
Board, per day, in private residences,
with meals, $1 to $1 50; without meals,
50 cents to $1; boarding houses, with
meals, $1 to $2 per day; hotels, with
meals, $3 to $5; without meals, $1 and
upward. Liberal rates will be given
by week or mon tn. By communicat
ing with the bureau you can secure
rooms for any date desired.
Mr. C. E. Harman, general passen
agent of the Western and Atlantic rail
road, Adanta, is prepared to furnish
any information relative to rates of
railroad fare, hotel accommodations,
9to,i upon application,