The Tennessee Centennial Exposition, which celebrated Tennesseeas 100th year of statehood, opened May 1, 1897, at Nashvilleas Centennial Park and enjoyed tremendous success during its six-month run. Citizens from all over Tennesseeaand the nationahonored the stateas history by sponsoring exhibits at the event, and thousands of visitors flocked to the fairgrounds each day to experience the excitement it offered. In this fascinating collection of over 200 images combined with informative, well-researched text, author Bobby Lawrence takes us on a journey into the past to relive the optimism and wonders of another time. Take a relaxing gondola ride on one of the parkas four lakes or stroll the 200-acre grounds and visit a variety of buildings and exhibits featuring everything from ancient artifacts to scientific inventions, from on-site farms to international restaurants, from the thrilling Vanity Fair, a midway attraction comparable to todayas amusement parks, to one of the first large displays of electric lights.