Louisiana Purchase Exposition — 1904 world's fair in St. Louis, Missouri, US
The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair drew nearly 19.7 million visitors and shaped American urban architecture, popular culture, and anthropological thought.
Key Facts
- Dates
- April 30 – December 1, 1904
- Total attendance
- Nearly 19.7 million people
- Participating countries
- More than 60 countries
- U.S. states represented
- 43 of 45 American states
- Total funding
- $15 million (≈$538 million in 2025)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
To commemorate the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, local, state, and federal authorities pooled $15 million in funds to organize a grand international exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, intended to showcase American progress, imperial reach, and consumer culture to a global audience.
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition ran from April 30 to December 1, 1904, in St. Louis. More than 60 nations and 43 U.S. states maintained exhibition spaces, presenting a wide range of displays covering technology, anthropology, entertainment, and consumer goods to nearly 19.7 million attendees.
The fair exerted lasting influence on American urban planning and architecture, as its monumental Greco-Roman aesthetic informed permanent public buildings and city master plans. Historians also note its enduring impact on the fields of anthropology and history, while its themes of race and imperialism have drawn sustained scholarly scrutiny.