The Southern Exposition, 1883 - 1887

And while I'm on the topic of fairs, from 1883 - 1887, Louisville was home to the annual Southern Exposition - just think slightly smaller World's Fair. Festivities were opened the first year by none other than the President of the United States himself, Chester Arthur. It promoted strengthening the economic bond between the North and South (this was only 18 years after the end of the Civil War) and highlighted agricultural technology, machinery, Thomas Edison's new electric light, and even art, music, and recreation. The exposition's grounds consisted of 40 or so acres around what is now St. James Court, Central Park, and "Old Louisville" residential. The main building had 13 acres of floor space, and according to John Kleber in The Encyclopedia of Louisville, may have been the largest building in the world made entirely of wood. It was demolished two years after the exposition closed to make way for new homes.