Fairground Park

First zoo cake

Fairground Park was originally a privately owned facility, first used by the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association for the St. Louis Exposition in 1865. In the early 1800's it was replaced with the St. Louis Fair and Jockey Club. In 1901, it was purchased by the owners of the Delmar Racing Track.  During the Civil War the Fairgrounds were used as a Union encampment known as Benton Barracks. And in 1902 as preparations for the 1904 World's Fair began. In 1905 it was closed down after the abolition of horse racing in Missouri.

A few years later the 132-acre fairground was purchased for park use by St. Louis for $700,000. All of the structures from the fair and zoo buildings were removed except the bear pits of the old zoo and the amphitheater. In 1912, the amphitheater was removed and replaced by the city's first, and world's largest, municipal swimming pool.

Cake artist - Dan Jabor