On June 1, 1905, a remarkable event unfolded as nearly 40,000 people attended the opening day of Portland’s only World’s Fair, the Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, or simply, the Lewis and Clark Exposition.
Though it took place 120 years ago, the photographs and memorabilia from this event continue to captivate modern audiences, showcasing a temporary city characterized by intricate buildings and thoroughfares encircling a lake.
By the end of the summer and fall of 1905, this fair drew over 1.5 million visitors, significantly contributing to Portland’s local economy and enhancing its stature as an industrial center on the West Coast, a position the city competed fiercely to solidify against rivals Seattle and San Francisco.
Although the exposition was informally recognized as a
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