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 State Fair of Texas Posted by:  QuesterMark
N 32° 46.911 W 096° 45.909
14S E 709304 N 3629314
One of seven markers inside the State Fairgrounds, this one, summarizing the history of the Fair itself, is one of two mounted on posts.
Waymark Code: WM19T1
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/08/2007
Views: 44
Index Entry: State Fair of Texas
Address: State Fair Grounds
City: Dallas
County: Dallas
Year Marker Erected: 1969
Repairs Completed: not surveyed
All State Fairgrounds/Fair Park markers:
WM19T1 State Fair of Texas
WM1A1H Steel Dust
WM19WJ Dallas Depot of the H. & T.C.
WM19NP A Tribute to Texas Women in the Civil War
WM19JE Hall of State
WM3ADC Texas Centennial Exposition
WM3A5K WRR Radio
Marker Number: 6888
Marker Text:
Founded in 1886, the State Fair of Texas now ranks as the most largely attended State Fair in the U.S. It was begun as a private, nonprofit corporation for civic purposes by Capt. W. H. Gaston and other pioneer business and civic leaders of Dallas.
Since 1904 the fair grounds have been owned by the city, which maintains them as a public park except during the annual two-week fair.
The fair suspended operations for two years in order to permit the Central Exposition of the Texas Centennial Celebration to be held here in 1936. In 1937 the Pan American Exposition used the grounds.
Over the years great names have appeared here, including wild west showman Buffalo Bill, Harry Houdini the magician, silver-tongued orator William Jennings Bryan, and Comanche war chief Quanah Parker.
Federal, state, and city governments have erected a series of permanent buildings on the fair grounds, including the Hall of State, five other museums, music hall, livestock coliseum, and "Cotton Bowl".
Originally 80 acres in size, the grounds have been successively enlarged to include the present 250 acres. Over 100,000,000 persons have entered its gates during annual expositions. (1969)
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