Join us as we celebrate the 111th anniversary of the 1915 world’s fair that helped transform the Bay Area.

Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco staged an extraordinary international exposition that drew nearly 19 million visitors. For just 50 cents admission (or $1 for an overnight stay!), fairgoers experienced dazzling architecture, groundbreaking innovation, and world-class art — including the magnificent Palace of Fine Arts.

The Suffragettes were there, along with celebrated performer Lotta Crabtree and composer John Philip Sousa. But beyond the spectacle, the Expo played a powerful role in reshaping the region’s identity and future.

How did this grand event help the Bay Area recover from disaster? Who were the politicians, designers, and artists behind its success? Come discover the vision, creativity, and resilience that made the 1915 fair unforgettable.

We hope you’ll join us for this lively and illuminating presentation!

 
About the Presenter

Linda Loveland Reid is the author of two novels and a recipient of the Jack London Award. A cum laude graduate of Sonoma State University, she teaches art history through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State and Dominican University. An abstract painter and longtime theater director in Sonoma and Marin counties, Linda currently serves as president of the Artist Workshop of Sonoma County and Chair of its Open Studio program.