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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. |
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“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 |
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 |
The 1936 Texas
Centennial Exposition in Dallas - aerial photo
Click on image to enlarge
Courtesy Sarah
Reveley |
1936
Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas - Aereal photo left
Click on image for full view
Courtesy Sarah
Reveley |
1936
Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas - Aereal photo right
Click on image to enlarge
Courtesy Sarah
Reveley |
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