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In 1907, Norfolk hosted the Jamestown Exposition, a celebration of America's first permanent settlement on April 26, 1607, and an event that marked America's ascension as a world power, in both military might and cultural influence. This exposition came at a time in American history when naval reviews, grandiose celebrations, world's fairs, and international expositions were at their zenith of public popularity. These were the days when American imperialism reigned and expositions were an expression of patriotic fervor as never before seen in this country. In Jamestown Exposition: American Imperialism on Parade Volume I,
readers will experience this historic event from its early planning and construction, meeting the men responsible for its coordination and success, to the pomp and circumstance of the different exhibits of participating companies, states, and foreign powers. The true-life story of Pocahontas, or Matoaka; the Battle of the Merrimack and Monitor, the exposition's most popular exhibit; and the colorful review of the different world navies, such as the Japanese and British fleets, are just a few examples of the fascinating stories touched upon in this first volume.

The Tennessee Centennial Exposition, which celebrated Tennessee's 100th year of statehood, opened May 1, 1897, at Nashville's Centennial Park and enjoyed tremendous success during its six-month run. Citizens from all over Tennessee--and the nation--honored the state's history by sponsoring exhibits at the event, and thousands of visitors flocked to the fairgrounds each day to experience the excitement it offered. In this fascinating collection of over 200 images combined with informative, well-researched text, author Bobby Lawrence takes us on a journey into the past to relive the optimism and wonders of another time. Take a relaxing gondola ride on one of the park's four lakes or stroll the 200-acre grounds and visit a variety of buildings and exhibits featuring everything from ancient artifacts to scientific inventions, from on-site farms to international restaurants, from the thrilling Vanity Fair, a midway attraction comparable to today's amusement parks, to one of the first large displays of electric lights.

The fascinating story of the Jamestown Exposition of 1907, a tricentennial celebration of America's first settlement in 1607, continues to unfold in this companion volume, which explores the exposition's parades, exhibitions, and the people who worked and participated in the days' events. Not only important as a statewide event, the exposition provided the United States government and many other states a stage to display their history and culture for the whole world to see and enjoy. In this second volume, you will continue your visual journey on the exposition grounds, viewing the new wonders of the time--flying machines--and the architecturally diverse State Buildings, such as Kentucky's frontierera fort, Virginia's replica colonial planter's mansion, and Vermont's country cottage. As you thumb through these pages, you will learn the incredible stories of some of the most famous people of the day who attended the exposition, such as William Jennings Bryan and Mark Twain, and the captivating history of the Black Jamestown Exposition Company, a group that
held a separate exhibit along with the festivities of the larger exposition. Also, the exposition served as the starting point for the around-the-world voyage of President Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet, a bold demonstration of America's naval superiority and new role as a leading world power.

In 1895, the Atlanta Exposition thrust the city and the South into the forefront of international news. Atlantans, legendary for their pluck, resolved to host an exhibition of the world's cultural, agricultural, and manufacturing products while promoting civil liberties for women and African Americans. Patriotism and industrialism fueled the show. Thirty years before, the Civil War had destroyed the cotton-producing states of America, and this exhibition illustrated those states' progress in the years following the war. In one day, attendees such as U.S. president Grover Cleveland could view Italian art, a live school for the deaf, the Liberty Bell, trained elephants, a Mexican village, and, of course, cotton manufacturing. There were other, smaller fairs in Atlanta, but the Cotton States and International Exposition will be known forever as "the Atlanta Exposition" because of its magnitude--both physically and intellectually. Today the remnants of the fairgrounds comprise Atlanta's beloved green spot: Piedmont Park.

In 1984, the city of New Orleans hosted the last world's fair held in the United States.

Conceived as part of an ambitious effort to revitalize a dilapidated section of the city and establish New Orleans as a year-round tourist destination, it took more than 12 years of political intrigue and design changes before the gates finally opened. Stretching 84 acres along the Mississippi River, the fair entertained more than seven million guests with a colorful collection of pavilions, rides, and restaurants during its six-month run. While most world's fairs lose money, the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair had the dubious distinction of going bankrupt and almost closing early. However, the $350-million investment did succeed in bringing new life to the area, which is now home to the city's convention center and a bustling arts district.