Texas State Fair

Preface

The Texas State Fair symbolizes the celebration of Texas heritage, and culture, by promoting a family-friendly environment, which involves entertainment, education, and community involvement. The Fair is also a celebration of Lonestar culture including events such as football to cattle and music to truck sales. Texas State Fair hosts a beloved key figure called "Big Tex" a colossal animatronic cowboy, who represents the relationship between the Lone Star culture and ranching heritage.

The Fair came back strong several times despite big setbacks from World War I, World War II, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It has played a significant role in shaping the state's identity and fostering a sense of community among the Texans.

The Fair represents rich culture and heritage, however, it is important to note that the fair has a history of setting a stage for political struggle, social progress, and confrontation on several socio-economic factors.

Big Tex at Texas State Fair.

The Dallas State Fair and Exposition

On Jan 30, 1886, a group of Dallas businessmen formed a private corporation called "The Dallas State Fair and Exposition". The key members of the group were W.H. Gaston, John S. Armstrong, and Thomas L. Marsalis. James B. Simpson was elected as the president of the association, and Sidney Smith was elected as the first secretary.

C.A. Keating who represented the farm dealers opposed Gaston when he proposed to acquire an 80-acre tract for Fair Park located in East Dallas. Both parties couldn't reach an agreement, which led Keating and his supporters to secure a charter for a separate event, which they called "The Texas State Fair & Exposition" and they opened it one day ahead of "Dallas State Fair."

Despite attracting a sizeable amount of crowds, the two parks failed to generate enough money. Finally, in 1887, both parks merged into one becoming "Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition". Despite being $100,000 in debt, the management purchased an additional 37 acres to expand the fairgrounds.

Portico of France, Texas State Fair.

Chronological Events

​January 30, 1886	The Formation of The Dallas State Fair & Exposition.
October 1886	The Texas State Fair & Exposition and The Dallas State Fair & Exposition organized and opened their first expositions.
1887	The two competing fairs mentioned above merged into one company.
1900	A grandstand collapsed during a fireworks show, then two years later, in 1902, flames completely destroyed the main exhibit building.
1903	Texas Legislature banned gambling on horses wiping out the Fair's main income source.
1904	The City of Dallas purchased the Texas State Fair.
1905	300,000 visitors attended the Texas State Fair establishing a new record.
1909	President William Howard Taft visited the fair.
1911	Woodrow Wilson delivered a speech.
1916	Attendance at the Fair surpassed the one million mark for the first time.
1918	World War 1 caused the cancellation of the State Fair, and the military converted the fairgrounds into temporary army camping grounds.
1920	The 1920s saw significant development and increased activity.
1925	The Music Hall, An Amazing Auditorium, was completed.
1929	The football game between rival colleges University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma was established as a yearly event held during the Fair.
1930	The existing racetrack was demolished to allow for the construction of a new 46,000 seat stadium on the fairgrounds property that was later renamed the Cotton Bowl.

1934	Civic leader R.L. Thornton chose the Fair as the main exposition location for the Texas Centennial Celebration.
1935	With no fair held in 1935, a $25 million project began that transformed the fairgrounds into an amazing masterpiece of art.
1936	Drawing over 6 million visitors during its six-month run in 1936, the Texas Centennial program established massive attendance records.
1937	They presented the Pan-American exposition.
1942 - 1945	There were no fairs held.
1949	After World War II, under R.L. Thornton's leadership, the fair drew two million visitors.
1950	​1. The fair installed a Monorail System. 2. Elvis Presley performed a concert at the Cotton Bowl during the fair. 3. Vice President Richard Nixon visited the fair. 4. Big Tex made his first appearance at the fair.
1960	The fair has organized each exposition around a central theme.
1968	For the first time, attendance at the Fair surpassed three million people.
1979 and 1983	In response to tragic midway accidents, the fair adapted new ride safety programs that the amusement industry now considers model standards.
1985	The fair designated Opening Saturday of 1985 as "Eddie Robinson Day."
1986	The federal government designated Fair Park as a National Historic Landmark.
1988	The Fair appointed Errol W. McKoy as president, giving him responsibility for the daily operations of the organization.
October 19, 2012	An electrical short in the base of the beloved icon, Big Tex, caused a fire that destroyed the structure. However, the cowboy returned to work in 2013.
September 27, 2013	The Fair held a welcome-back celebration for Big Tex.
2014	In the spring of 2014, Errol McKoy retired, and the Fair Board elected Mitchell Glieber as the new president.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Texas State Fair symbolizes the celebration of the State's rich history and culture, fostering a sense of community among Texans, entertainment, educational, and Agricultural promotion. Also, the Fair represents the setbacks, difficult times, and social and civic challenges that reshaped the state's history and transformed it into an economic powerhouse.