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Visitors: State Fair of Texas History
Fairs have been a part of Dallas life since 1859, when businessmen set up displays. By the 1880s, the Dallas fair was a yearly event. Grand plans were made for the 1886 fair, which was to be held at a new site in East Dallas (today's Fair Park).
Some business leaders disagreed with the East Dallas location and formed their own fair. Both were held at the same time, and surprisingly, both were a success. The following year, the two fairs combined, and the tradition of the State Fair of Texas began. However, the fair had many financial difficulties, and in 1904, the city of Dallas bought the fairgrounds for use as a public park. In 1936, Dallas hosted the Texas Centennial Exposition.
Most of Fair Park's present buildings were built for this fair at a cost of more than $15 million. Thousands of visitors came to Dallas to celebrate. The following year, the Greater Texas and Pan-American Exposition was held. These fairs left a lasting legacy: the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the United States.
