Texas Centennial Exposition

As plans for the Centennial celebration of Texas Independence took shape, a group of Dallas businessmen led by R.L. Thornton, Sr., Fred Florence, and Nathan Adams joined together to promote Dallas as the host of the major Centennial event. The Centennial Exposition Corporation, formed in 1935, took temporary control of the State Fair Grounds, and a team of over 100 architects, artists, and craftsmen soon began designing the exposition complex. Employing thousands of people in the midst of the Great Depression, the project created impressive structures, works of art, and landscaping. Governor James Allred officially opened the exposition on June 6, 1936, and its activities included a spectacular parade through downtown Dallas, guest speakers, and nationwide news coverage. In his speech to the crowd, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Daniel Roper declared, "America, here is Texas!" President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the exposition on June 12. The exposition ran for 178 days, entertained over six million people, and became a turning point in the development of Dallas, leaving a legacy of art, history, architecture, and culture to generations of Texans.

Dallas, Texas · United States