Southern Exposition

Southern Exposition
Portion of poster for 1884 Southern Exposition
Overview
BIE-classUnrecognized exposition
NameSouthern Exposition
Area45 acres (180,000 m2)
Location
CountryUnited States
CityLouisville, Kentucky
VenueLouisville's Old Louisville neighborhood.

The Southern Exposition was a five-year series of world's fairs held in Louisville, Kentucky, from 1883 to 1887 in what is now Louisville's Old Louisville neighborhood. The exposition, held for 100 days each year on 45 acres (180,000 m2) immediately south of Central Park, which is now the St. James-Belgravia Historic District, was essentially an industrial and mercantile show. At the time, the exposition was larger than any previous American exhibition with the exception of the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876. U.S. President Chester A. Arthur opened the first annual exposition on August 1, 1883.