100th Anniversary Festival of 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition | Palace of Fine Arts

Submitted by the Event Organizer

100th Anniversary of the Panama-Pacific Int’l Exposition (PPIE)

February 20, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE), the World’s Fair celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal and showcasing San Francisco—its recovery from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire and its world trade potential.

Throughout 2015, the PPIE100, a citywide consortium of cultural, civic, and historical organizations, will conduct centennial programs to commemorate the PPIE’s historical significance and to reflect on its legacy. 

> View all PPIE 2015 Events – tons of them are free.

Saturday, February 21, 2015
100th Anniversary of the Panama-Pacific Int’l Exposition (PPIE)

On February 21, 2015, a free, day-long community event will honor the 100th anniversary of the opening opening of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) and will kick-off a year of Centennial events from noon to 10 pm.

PPIE Community Day Festival
February 21, 2015 | Noon to 10 pm
Palace of Fine Arts, SF
FREE

Noon: Opening Ceremony – Under the Rotunda of the Palace of Fine Arts, attended by civic dignitaries and c.1915 fair attendees Buffalo Bill Cody, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Michael H de Young, aviator Art Smith, and more.

Noon – 5 pm: Musical Performances by talented community organizations including The Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Emeryville Taiko, Nemenzo Polynesian Dance Company, Jessica Recinos featuring SolTrón, Mala Junta, and the San Francisco Opera Merola Opera Program.

3 pm: Uke-A-Thon Under the Rotunda – featuring Ben Ahn, Hana Hou 100, Hiram Kaailau Bell, and other special guests. All are welcome. There will be lessons, dancing and fun for all. The PPIE introduced the ukulele to the United States, causing it to become the rage of its day. Led by a Ukulele Band of local players, the community is invited to bring your Ukes and play along.

Noon – 5 pm: Exhibitions, activities, music, performances, displays in the Palace of Fine Arts, enlivened and occupied throughout the year by the Innovation Hangar.

• Bay Area organizations like the de Young and the Legion of Honor museums, The Exploratorium, Heyday Books and others will come together as the California Historical Society opens its 10,000 square foot exhibition on the PPIE history, joined by the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Smithsonian, Maker Faire, Tech Museum and others.
• See an original 1915 Ford Model T and sit in a Wells Fargo Stagecoach
• Guardians of the City will also feature three of the ten original fire engines actually from the exposition.
• The Partner Pavilion features booths from local museums, organizations, and performance groups like the Chinese Historical Society, Oakland Museum of California, Mechanics’ Institute, SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and Chorus, SF Railway Museum, The Victorian Alliance, Presidio Trust, HistoryPin, and many more.
• View rare collections of PPIE artifacts and meet author Laura Ackley who will sign copies of her book San Francisco’s Jewel City.

7-10 pm: Palace After Dark: Stroll the Palace grounds– experience what it was like to be at the Exposition and enjoy a film and light installation by Optic Flare in the Palace of Fine Arts Theater lobby. Refreshments from local purveyors will be available for purchase.

Transportation: The Palace of Fine Arts is well served by Muni, Golden Gate Transit and PresidiGo Shuttle.

Parking: Parking is available at Crissy Field and Marina Green.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.