Panama-Pacific Exposition Came to an Official Close Last Night -- December 4, 2015

The Daily Gate City, 05-December-1915

San Francisco's Panama-Pacific International Exposition closed on 04-December-1915.  This article from a newspaper in Keokuk, Iowa, shows how the exposition was a topic of national interest.  

EIGHTEEN MILLION PEOPLE ATTENDED FAIR AT FRISCO

Panama-Pacific Exposition Came to an Official Close Last Night With Big Celebration and Money in Bank. 

WAS TEN MONTHS OF SIGHT SEEING

On Stroke of Midnight, Every Light on Exhibition Ground was Turned Off and Bombs in Air Proclaimed the End.
[United Press Leased Wire Service.]

The Exposition's Word to President Wilson.

"Oar task ls finished. The contribution of nations, states, organisations and individuals has been offered with earnestness and the enthusiastic hope that results, beneficial to the world's progress and advancement, would follow". Please accept assurance of affectionate and patriotic regard."—President C. C. Moore to President Wilson.

The Exposition's Word to the World.
"The end of six years' endeavor has come. California has fulfilled the task imposed on It by the national government to hold a fair to celebrate the completion by our country. of the Panama canal. The whole state has responded to the responsibility of holding a great international celebration
with the world purpose of betterment of humanity."—President Moore's address following the president's toast.

Exposition Figures.

Attendance—Nearly 18,750,000.
Closing day to mid-afternoon—193,913.
Estimated total closing day—260,000 to 275,000.
Net profits—$1,040,000.

 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 4.—
The Panama-Pacific international exposition entered tonight into the realm of the past.

The gay red and green lights shimmered above it for the last time.  Thousands made merry, though an institution was dytng in the night. Beneath the stars, in the open air of a fair California night, the throngs danced their farewell. Flags that floated proudly to the breeze—not at half mast, but boastfully, flaunting accomplishment—came down at sunset as the guns boomed a good-bye salute from the exposition grounds, while forts around the bay made the marina hills re-echo with their answering salvo. Two sets of closing ceremonies marked the passing of the exposition which had commemorated for ten months the wedding of the waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific.

At noon the nation said its goodbye, through President Wilson.

His toast, sparked off by the wireless, paid tribute to the purpose of the great fair.

President Moore figuratively passed this on to the world. Bands flared forth the national anthem; crowds stood uncovered, joining in the strains. The sight was impressive; it marked the only pause in the day's merriment. This afternoon, while thousands revelled about the grounds, officials with solemn ceremony closed the gem city's palaces—the chapter out of the Arabian Nights.

Tonight San Francisco said its farewell.

The tiny auto trains puffed their way about the grounds on their last trips, carrying throngs of merry makers. Thousands crowded the zone and joined in its spirit.  Wistfully it seemed they peeped at "Stella"—the most popular exhibit on the white way—barkers shouted the joys of seeing the "diving girls" and the hundred and one other shows; diners over-crowded the restaurants and cabarets the court of the universe could scarce hold all those who wanted to join in the outdoor dancing; the odor of orange blossoms made it a night of romance.

Just before midnight however, the sound of revelry was hushed, silently the thousands gathered to chant "Auld Lang Syne." and "Farewell to Thee." On the stroke of midnight President Moore pushed a button shutting off the thousands upon thousands of lights. High up on the tower of jewels a bugler sounded "taps." Thousands of feet above, Art Smith, the dare devil bird boy, streaked "Farewell P. P. I. E.," in fiery letters behind his aeroplane.

Along the marina, 635 hidden mortars threw into the air bombs which exploded simultaneously in a deafening final fusillade.

The exposition chorus and thousands of voices swelled in a mighty volume of song that re-echoed in the heart of the city.

The exposition was at an end.