The Pacific Monthly/Volume 14/Architecture of Exposition

by Ion Lewis

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

ARCHITECTURE OF EXPOSITION

By Ion Lewis, Director of Architecture

IT has always seemed to the writer that the educational aspect of an exposition is of the greatest importance, and in view of this, the choice of a site for the Lewis and Clark Exposition was most fortunate and happy, and to those responsible for this selection, all credit is due. The arrangement of the block plan was well in keeping with the site, utilizing to the best advantage its beauties and environment. The object always in view, the preservation of the vista of the lower Willamette Valley, was never lost sight of, and firmly fixed the main axis of the plan in a general north and south direction; thus maintaining the fine water view in the immediate foreground, across which rises the beautiful green peninsula with its oak trees, and beyond, the Willamette, flowing between high, evergreen-clad hills. The good Judgment and foresight of the Exposition directors were evidenced by obtaining, during the early months of the Exposition, the services of the eminent landscape architects, Olmsted Brothers, a firm of national reputation. Mr. John C. Olmsted was engaged to visit the site and consult with the Directors of Works and Architecture, with the view of preparing a block plan, or general scheme, for the arrangement of the buildings and grounds. This plan, made two years ago, has been faithfully followed, with but few minor changes.

The Directors of the Exposition, after much discussion and the consideration of various methods pursued by other expositions, decided to appoint a supervising architect—whose title has since been changed to "Director of Architecture" — and a board of architects. To each member of the board was apportioned a building of the original main group. This apportionment was made by the architects amongst themselves, by drawing lots, the Director of Architecture to have general supervision of all the buildings and of the board of architects, that all might work in harmony and the result be not incongruous and inharmonious.

The decision of the board of architects, in the design of the buildings, to confine themselves to a free renaissance of the Spanish type, seemed most appropriate, in view of the discovery of the Oregon Coast by the early Spanish navigators. While this scheme was ultimately deviated from to a certain extent, it has been carried out in a construction similar to most of the late expositions, namely, a wood frame, covered with staff, the whole surmounted by red and green tile effects.

In the immediate forefront of the entrance, after passing the turnstiles, is a long curved peristyle of a double row of Ionic columns, through which a mystic glimpse is caught of the broad middle plaza, with the waterway, peninsula, the Government buildings, and distant panorama, beyond.

Flanking the white peristyle, on the left, is the two-storied Administration Building, with the press annex, while on the right are the post office and the police and fire stations.

Leaving the classic peristyle of the entrance, the broad, long vista breaks into view. The immediate foreground being occupied by the spacious Concourse Plaza, with the Palace of Agriculture to the right and the Foreign Exhibits Building to the left. The open space between is designated Middle Plaza, and consists of two broad avenues with sunken gardens between. Dividing the sunken gardens is a simple Italian fountain.

The Agricultural Building is devoted to the exhibits of the various states of the West and the Northwest. It is typically Spanish in character, with broad wall surfaces, richly ornamented window penetrations and broad, overhanging, heavily bracketed eaves. Surmounting the whole rises a majestic dome, conspicuouosly marking the building from all parts of the grounds.

The Foreign Exhibits Building, directly opposite the foregoing building, while of the same length, is of but half the width. Still keeping the broad wall spaces of the Spaniard, this building has an individuaity of its own. In place of the dome, a number of small towers rise from the center of the facade to emphasize its quiet dignity. The central portion of the roof is devoted to a large roof garden, whence magnificent views may be had of the grounds and the grand panorama of the valley.

To the west of the Foreign Exhibits Building, on a slightly elevated position, is placed a building devoted to the Oriental exhibits. This building, while somewhat smaller than its neighbor, is yet capable of housing the exhibits of many foreign countries, without counting the commodious galleries. The style of architecture is somewhat more classic than that of the two buildings previously mentioned, but is none the less interesting.

East of the Agricultural Building is a building of equal size, devoted to Manufactures, Liberal Arts, and Varied Industries.

At the extreme west of the main group

Middle Plaza. Frederick Remington's famous "Shooting Up the Town" is conspicuous in the foreground.

A portion of Centennial Park, showing the Washington Building to right of center.

of buildings is the Forestry Building, devoted to the exhibits of the Oregon Country and its great industry, the products of the forest. It is typical of its contents, constructed entirely of native products, mostly in the rough. The lower portion, or first story, is of huge logs, with the bark on, while the upper portion is covered with large sheets of fir bark. The roof is of split cedar shakes. On each of its long sides arise colonnades of immense fir logs, supporting an extensive loggia, or gallery; and the great overhanging roof, with its picturesque gables, contrasts markedly with the neighboring buildings. About the interior is a rustic colonnade of still larger and taller firs than on the exterior, supporting rustic balconies. It is a forestry exhibit in itself, in its simplest educational form.

At the far eastern end of the grounds is a building, second only in size to the Palace of Agriculture and the Manufactures Building, devoted to the exhibits of Machinery, Transportation and Electricity. This structure forms the eastern end of a large quadrangle, the sides of which are enclosed by various structures, including the Mining Building, devoted to one of the great industries of the West, the Festival Hall, devoted to the large gatherings, conventions, musical events, etc., coincident with an exposition of this character, and other minor structures. All of these buildings are of a character in keeping with the main structures.

After leaving the main buildings of the Fair proper, and directly north of the Middle Plaza, is the Terrace of the Lakeview Plaza, which is bounded with classic balustrades, and from which broad flights of steps descend to the band stand and the Esplanade on the lake front. The views from this terrace are magnificent, and not the least among them is that of the long bridge, with the magnificent Government Building in the distance. This bridge, with its approaches, is nearly half a mile long, and consists of a long line of arches, through which gondolas, launches and rowboats pass to and fro. During the evening thousands of electric lights cast their reflections in the placid waters below.

The main object of this bridge is to reach the peninsula, across the lake, on which is situated the Government Exhibit, consisting of a collection of most interesting buildings. The main building of this group, three acres in area, is sur-

View overlooking the Terraces and Guild Lake on opening day.

mounted by two tall towers, each two hundred and sixty feet high. Flanking this structure are two minor buildings, each eighty feet by one hundred and sixty feet, devoted to Exhibits of Fisheries, and of the Philippines and Alaska. Connecting the various structures are two grand Ionic peristyles forming passageways for the public. Behind the main group is placed the Forestry and Irrigation Building. All of these are designed in the Spanish renaissance style, and undoubtedly excel in beauty and impressiveness any government buildings at previous expositions, not excepting St. Louis.

The various State buildings on the grounds were not considered in the original scheme, as it was not then known how many would participate. The first to arrive was Massachusetts. This good old commonwealth has erected a most attractive colonial building directly back of the classic Ionic of Oregon. Next came New York with a beautiful Italian villa, surrounded with flowered terraces overlooking the entrancing panorama of the lake and Government buildings.

California comes with a representative of its most interesting missions. This building is distinctively Spanish, of a cruciform plan, each of its four fronts presenting a reproduction of one of the four principal Spanish missions of the state.

Washington, Oregon's nearest neighbor, occupies the choicest site on the grounds, and well is it occupied. The grand Ionic facades of the Erectheum dominate the landscapes.

Idaho, with the exception of the Forestry Building, presents the only purely timber construction on the grounds, and while its roof sends a dominant note of color, the architectural relief is felt.

Utah comes with a distinctive Southern Colonial type, reminding one of Mount Vernon.

Colorado, Missouri and Illinois are attractively classic, and maintain the classical character of the State buildings.

It is to be regretted that the full scope of the Exposition was not known in the beginning so that a better and more intelligent grouping might have been maintained, but this was impossible, many of the states being very late in participating, while the increase of exhibit space required demanded additional buildings and numerous annexes.

A bit of "The Trail."

The Forestry Building or Log Palace, absolutely unique. The most striking building at the Exposition. The only building having real "local color."