National Conservation Exposition

Seal of the National Conservation Exposition

The National Conservation Exposition was an exposition held in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, between September 1, 1913 and November 1, 1913.^[1] The exposition celebrated the cause of bringing national attention to conservation activities, especially in the Southeastern United States.^[2] The fair was held in what is now Knoxville's Chilhowee Park.^[2]

History

Inspired by the successes of Knoxville's Appalachian Expositions of 1910 and 1911, civic leaders sought to bring greater national exposure to the community with a third exhibition in 1913. In 1912, at the convention of the National Conservation Congress, the organization endorsed Knoxville as the conservation fair site.^[3] The National Conservation Exposition Company was established and funded by the Tennessee legislature with passage of the Senate Bill #1, Chapter 19 of the general appropriation bill passed during the 58th General Assembly.^[4] Additional federal funding was secured for the fair by May 1913.^[3]

Although a national exhibition, it primarily focused on the environment and natural resources of the South.^[3] The two month exhibition drew over one million visitors, with nine major and six smaller buildings constructed on-site to house its exhibits and demonstrations.^[2]

See also

• 1982 World's Fair
• List of world's fairs

References

1. ^ "Comment". The Knoxville News-Sentinel: pp. A13. July 12, 1991. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Balloch, Jim (June 16, 1997). "Park site's history long, colorful". The Knoxville News-Sentinel: pp. A1. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "National Conservation Exposition, Knoxville, Tenn.". Public Senate Reports. April 7 - December 1, 1913. http://books.google.com/books?id=S2BZAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA17&dq=%22National+Conservation+Exposition%22&lr=#PPP7,M1. Retrieved 2008-08-24. 
4. ^ Thompson, Frank M. (July 1914). "Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee". http://books.google.com/books?id=HokEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA460&dq=%22National+Conservation+Exposition%22#PPR3,M1. Retrieved 2008-08-24. 

External links

• The First Exposition of Conservation and Its Builders — Google Books