The World's Cotton Exposition (1884-1885)

On April 24, 1883, the National Cotton Planters Association chose New Orleans as the place to celebrate the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. The "centennial" of the exposition's name commemorated the first shipment of cotton from American to Britain in 1784. The exposition opened to the public on December 16, 1884, and closed on June 1, 1885. The price of the daily admision was 50 cents and it is estimated that the total attendance was 1,158,840 (Gregory 44). Forty-four U.S. states and forty-two nationas were represented at the exhibition.

The exposition was held at the Upper City Park of New Orleans, and the exhibit was comprised of six main buildings: Main Building, Art Gallery, U.S. Government Building, Horticultural Hall, Mexican Exhibit Building, and the Mexican National Headquarters. Mexico was the largest foreign exhibitor, contributing with $200,000 for two buildings and exhibits. According to Janice Lee Hayes, "The Mexican Band, with its ornate national costume, provided 'magnificent music' and was wildly applauded. The band members were even invited to join Jefferson Davis in greeting the arrival of the Liberty Bell at the New Orleans train station, where they pleased the crowd with a Mexican rendition of 'Dixie.' Throughout the course of the centennial the Mexican Commission organized special feast day celebrations when bullfights, regional dances, and cavalry movements amused the fairgoers" (186).