Greetings family, friends, and Theme Park buddies. The "Zone" at San Francisco's 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition must have really been something to see just based on this one exhibit from the Union Pacific Railroad!
Bill
Embedded Files
_______________________________________________________
MUSINGS OF A THEME PARK FAN
_______________________________________________________
Panama-Pacific International Exposition
Yellowstone Park, A wonderful Amusement Concession
on the “Zone”
In order to encourage recreational rail travel most of the early western railroads were promoting visits to the National Parks. By 1920 Yellowstone National Park was accessible by three rail lines, the Northern Pacific through Gardiner, Montana, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy through Cody, Wyoming, and Union Pacific to West Yellowstone, Montana. Undoubtedly Union Pacific’s unique and elaborate exhibit at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal and San Francisco’s recovery from the 1906 earthquake had a huge impact on rail travel to the National Parks. Union Pacific created an enormous three dimensional reproduction of many of Yellowstone’s iconic features including realistic mountains, lakes and hot springs that were accessible by a quarter mile long fern lined mountain trail. Within the spacious grounds a huge 250 foot detailed relief map of the park awaited visitor’s as did the 1000 seat “Geyserland Spectatorium” that included reproductions of many of the parks thermal features including Old Faithful geyser that erupted with 10,000 gallons of boiling water steam and spray every 20 minutes. A replica of rustic Old Faithful Inn seated 2000 restaurant guests keeping 56 cooks busy while a 80 person Exposition Orchestra entertained guests with twice daily performances. Union Pacific’s remarkable feat of scenic design and showmanship operated at a loss however was immeasurably successful in drawing rail passengers to the National Parks for decades to come.
Postcard from the collection of Bill Ralph
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse