Ticket to the Past: The Past 25 Years of the Missouri State Fair

Missouri Centennial

The twenty-first Missouri State Fair marked the centennial anniversary of Missouri's statehood, and fittingly, the Fair's coming of age. The 1921 Missouri Centennial Exposition and State Fair was a two-week extravaganza. Fair organizers surveyed the state for suggestions for old time songs and games. Special editions of the monthly publication 'Fair Facts' were produced, offering suggestions for celebrating the centennial throughout the year and advertising the special features of the Fair. A commemorative silver half-dollar was authorized by Congress and 250,000 were struck. Former Governors and their descendants were honored. An invitation was issued for former Missourians to return home for the Fair. Prizes were offered for those who traveled farthest. For the Fair's climax, a 5,000 member-cast pageant was produced to commemorate the event. Floyd C. Shoemaker, Secretary of the State Historical Society of Missouri and a member of the Centennial Commission Historical Advisory Board, authored “A Description and Historical Explanation” for the souvenir program.