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Don’t tell anybody,
but the idea of a Centennial
began with a Yankee. In 1923 a New York publisher was the keynote speaker of advertising
clubs in Corsicana, Texas, and proposed a Centennial
celebration. The primary reason was to introduce Texas’ then unrecognized resources
to the rest of the country. He believed an advertising campaign based on Texas’
“gloriously romantic history …. would attract the attention and presence of the
world.”
Between then and the opening of the centennial,
there was a lot of excitement and enthusiasm mixed with a lot bickering and fighting
about what should be where and who would do what, but in the end we ended up with
a Texas size celebration that will never be forgotten. |
Hall
of State in Fair Park
Photo courtesy Matt Pasant, 2008 |
Dallas
- State of Texas Building“Occupying
a commanding position on a raised terrace garden at the head of a long reflecting
pool and framed by a foreground of playing fountains, the State of Texas Building
is effective as a massive memorial as well as an efficient building” – Centenary
Commission
Architectural details tell the story of Texas history in symbolism.
Heroic statues of Fannin, Lamar, Austin, Houston, Rusk, and Travis, executed by
Pompeo Coppini, are in the Hall of Heroes. After the Centennial the building was
leased by the State of Texas to the City of Dallas,
and is operated by the Dallas Historical Society as a museum and library of Texas
history.
The State of Texas Building is on the grounds of the Dallas State
Fair, off Interstate 75 and Lemmon Avenue.
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| | Spirit
of the Centennial, 1936, Fair Park, Dallas.
Statue of concrete and plaster
carved by Jose Martin. The reflection pool provided by Raoul
Josset and Martin.
The model for this statue was Georgia Carroll, lead
singer with the Kay Kaiser band (who later became Mrs. Kaiser.)
Photo courtesy
Krystle Fleming, March 2006 | |
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Dallas' Centennial Expo Building
From "Monuments
Commemorating the Centenary of Texas Independence", State of Texas, 1938
Courtesy
Sarah
Reveley |
Two views of the Centennial Expo Hall
From "Monuments Commemorating the Centenary
of Texas Independence", State of Texas, 1938
Courtesy Sarah
Reveley |
Texas
Centennial Exposition Buildings and Grounds
Postcard courtesy Sarah
Reveley |
Centennial
Expo Administration Building
Postcard courtesy Sarah
Reveley | |
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