Hotel Dale Souvenir [Panama-Pacific International Exposition]

The Panama–Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco, California between February 20 to December 4, 1915, and was ostensibly organized to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal the year prior. Nearly 20 million visitors attended the World’s Fair during its run, allowing the host city to highlight its miraculous rebuilding from the 1906 earthquake and fire.

Naturally, local businesses and entrepreneurs were keen to take advantage of the swelling tourist population, and articles such as this were issued to encourage patronage. The folding brochure/souvenir was created anonymously and published by the Hotel Dale, constructed in 1909. The primary image shows a colorful panorama of the exposition grounds between Van Ness and Lincoln Park.

Important attractions are individually labeled and include the Presidio, Water Court, Parade Ground, Harbor View, and more. The Hotel Dale is also prominently featured, with its proximity to the fair carefully noted. Blocks of text on either side welcome the audience and provide statistics on the size and cost of the fair relative to those previously hosted in Chicago, St. Louis, and Paris. Photographs and additional text on the verso show hotel amenities, rates, and scenes in nearby Golden Gate Park.