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One hundred years ago today, the Pan Pacific World's Fair ended. Like a store going out of business, everything had to go! The only problem was that there was 635 acres of stuff to get rid of.
Everything was for sale; the exhibits, displays, sculpture, and even the buildings. Scavengers came and took what they could. What didn’t sell was destroyed. The exposition buildings were designed to be temporary with simple framed structures covered with plaster wire walls. Even the gas, power, and water lines were removed. The land was redeveloped into the Marina District we know today.
Everything was for sale; the exhibits, displays, sculpture, and even the buildings. Scavengers came and took what they could. What didn’t sell was destroyed. The exposition buildings were designed to be temporary with simple framed structures covered with plaster wire walls. Even the gas, power, and water lines were removed. The land was redeveloped into the Marina District we know today.
Some buildings got "lucky" and survived. The Palace of Fine Arts remains in its original location. The racetrack became Crissy Airfield. The French Pavilion was recreated in a new form as the Legion of Honor and the Ohio State Pavilion went on an adventure.
Per the San Mateo Daily Journal, the Ohio Pavilion was sold to a group of investors who wanted to make it part of their country club. At low tide the building was lifted on to two barges and at high tide towed twenty three miles down the bay to San Carlos harbor. High winds almost sent the building crashing into a bridge but it eventually made it to its destination. There was a base waiting as a new ground floor and at low tide, the building was slipped on top of it. The visuals must have been awesome to see. |
As is true for many historical buildings, the Ohio Pavilion lived in different roles past its original purpose. It never became the country club as planned but did spend some time as an exclusive bar during Prohibition. Sadly it also sat empty for many many years. Finally in 1956, the land was sold to make an airport and the building was intentionally burned down. There are a couple of cool resources to see what remains of the fair, 100 year later. The National Park Service has published a walking tour through the original exposition site. The California Historical Society with Park and Rec created After the Lights Went Out which is available as a download. |