August 2021 - Lafayette Square Archives

1904: Down The Pike At The World’s Fair

*Pike Day at the 1904 World’s Fair. Atlantic Magazine.*

St. Louis finally one-ups Chicago

It’s a marvel that the undisputed height of cultural achievement in St. Louis came 117 years ago. Ice cream cones, hot dogs, iced tea, the acquisition of the Philippines, and preemie incubators on display. The 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition had it all. Times come and go, but the fair remains a defining event.

1918: Babies’ Camps in Lafayette Park

The American period between 1890 and 1920 is sometimes known as the Progressive Era. It was a time when the term “muckraking” was applied to journalism. The press led the way in opposing corruption in government and big business.