Site icon Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair

165. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Texas Building

THE TEXAS BUILDING.—The Texas Building, a fine structure, was a credit to the patriotism and energy of the ladies of that state and equally a rebuke to the legislature of the great commonwealth which failed to make the needed appropriation in time. It was to the women alone that praise for Texas’ representation at the Fair was due. The building occupied a fine site near the northern extremity of the grounds, not far from the Fifty-seventh Street entrance. The architecture was somewhat in the Spanish style, the early history of Texas being borne in mind by the architect. The dimensions of the structure were eighty-five by two hundred and fifty feet, with a height of seventy feet,. and its cost was between $40,000 and $50,000. The interior was beautifully finished in Texas woods and the various apartments, necessary in a state building, were all commodious and finely appointed. There was an assembly room, fifty-six feet square and twenty feet high, having an art glass skylight with the lone star of the state in mosaic work for a center. There was a bureau of information and there were apartments for the various officials and the uses of visitors, as well as a large auditorium The historical museum, library and rooms for exhibits were well filled with most interesting objects. What attracted a great deal of attention among those was a fine portrait of Gen. Sam Houston, recalling the days when Texas was struggling for liberty. The second floor of the building was devoted to a gallery surrounded by arches from which entrance was had to verandas.

Other Pages from PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR.

Exit mobile version