LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 May Signature Texas Arts Auction #653  / 

36415

Texas Spring Palace Poster

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Texas Spring Palace Poster
<I>Texas Spring Palace</B></I><BR>Poster<BR>25in. x 20in.<BR><BR>This original poster was printed to advertise the second season of the Texas Spring Palace. The Texas Spring Palace was built in 1889 to house a grand regional and agricultural exhibition. The exhibition was advertised nationwide and internationally in order to draw visitors from around the globe to Fort Worth, Texas. The campaign was a great success, producing a ripple effect which boosted immigration and financial investment in the region.<BR><BR>The wooden building composed of a central dome, grand hallways, and cupolas, was painted deep green and decorated inside and out with local agricultural and commercial products, such as wheat from Wichita Falls, cotton, and cornstalk and cobs. The main dome of the Texas Spring Palace was second in size only to that of the national Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Throughout the duration of the fair, the building and its grounds played host to a grand variety of musical acts, dramatic performances, and even featured the death-defying feat of a man who parachuted from a hot air balloon at 1,000 feet. There were also arts and crafts exhibits, including mosaics and large dioramas built of grain and seed depicting locations such as Galveston Harbor. The Texas Spring Palace was surrounded by gardens of various Texan and Mexican flora. However, the life of the Texas Spring Palace was just as ephemeral as that of a wildflower.<BR><BR>The Texas Spring Palace originated in 1889 and opened from May 29 through June 20. Although the exhibition was not a financial success, it produced great enthusiasm in the community, increased tourism and boosted the recognition of local businesses. The palace re-opened from May 10 to May 31, 1890. The halls of the building were expanded and all local businesses shut down temporarily to support the on-going fair. The second season of the exhibition was undeniably a success, which ended in catastrophe.<BR><BR>On the evening of May 30, 1890, as the Elgin Watch Factory Band finished its set and the attendees prepared for the nightly ball, a fire quickly swept through the building and engulfed it. Among the seven thousand persons attending, there were many injuries, but only Alfred S. Hayne, a visiting Englishman, lost his life saving the lives of others. Both this man and the Texas Spring Palace have been memorialized in Texas history.<BR><BR>This poster, a true piece of classic Texas history, is one of only three of its kind, and may be the finest surviving example.<BR><BR>Provenance:<BR>Fort Worth Estate<BR><BR> <B>Condition Report:</B> Excellent condition. Some water stains. Losses to the bottom of the image. Not laid down. Period frame in excellent condition.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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