All the world came to St. Louis in 1904 when the city hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Foreign nations put their cultural accomplishments on display in the fair’s numerous pavilions while visitors flocked from near and far to witness spectacles such as the reconstructed Tyrolean Alps, the reflecting waters of the Grand Basin, and the magisterial palaces that showcased the latest wonders in engineering, machinery, and the arts. Although the World’s Fair was held in Forest Park on the extreme western edge of the city, the event had a wide impact on all urban districts, including the downtown. With the eyes of the world on St. Louis, it was important to present the city as attractive, efficient, and progressive. Advocates of beautification, clean government, and city planning seized the opportunity to usher in numerous civic improvements: a new water system, a reform administration, and broad, tree-lined boulevards. Yet the continued influx of poor immigrants, mostly in the areas surrounding downtown, tested the tenacity and sometimes challenged the aims of the Progressive reformers.

Explore the history of St. Louis in the 1900s by clicking on buildings in the 3-D model on the left side of the screen.