The Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) was a world's fair held in San Francisco, California between February 20 and December 4 in 1915. Its ostensible purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery from the 1906 earthquake. The fair was constructed on a 635 acre (2.6 km˛) site in San Francisco, along the northern shore now known as the Marina.

Constructed from temporary materials (primarily staff, a combination of plaster and burlap fiber), almost all the fair's various buildings and attractions were pulled down in late 1915. Intended to fall into pieces at the close of the fair (reportedly because the architect believed every great city needed ruins), the only surviving building, Bernard Maybeck's Palace of Fine Arts, remained in place, slowly falling into disrepair[2] (although the hall used to display painting and sculpture during the Fair was repurposed as a garage for jeeps during World War II). The Palace, including the colonnade with its signature weeping women and rotunda dome, was completely reconstructed in the 1960s and is currently occupied by the Exploratorium, an interactive science museum.

We are pleased to present this wonderful collection of photographs and films of this important historic event.

Collection includes:

:: 23 Historic Panoramic Photographs and the following movies:

:: Mabel and Fatty viewing the World's Fair (Five Parts) {Time 16:45}

:: Panama-Pacific International Exposition (Color footage) {Time 8:30}

:: Panama-Pacific International Exposition {Time 8:12}

:: Panama-Pacific International Exposition - (1940's) {Time 10:12}

:: Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco {Time 5:05}

:: The Story of Jewel City {Time 9:03}

:: 32 "FULL COLOR" Photo Gallery