Tulsa County Fairgrounds (Expo Square) 1964 scans and photos

Tulsa County Fairgrounds (Expo Square) 1964 scans and photos

Photos of IPE building near completion (also showing KELi Satellite, Pavilion, and Bell's Amusement Park) and a twelve-page program from the 15th anniversary award dinner of the Tulsa Exposition and Fair Corporation, held in the fairgrounds cafeteria on June 25, 1964. Photos show the evolution and expansion of the fairgrounds since the board was established in 1949 (over 512,000 sq. ft. of new building space).

1949: Two new 30' x 200' horse barns commissioned in July, costing $18,000, to be ready by September 15.

1950: $112,000 raised in June and July for 13 new livestock exhibit facilities, ready for the fair by September 15, 1950.

1951: 47' x 400' curtain wall on old grandstand, without support, removed and replaced with signboards.

1952: Five new livestock bays to the west of original 13, built for $54,000.

1953: $610,000 county bond issue for new agricultural building office, new 4-H/FFA dormitory. Five horse barns moved in line with other livestock buildings, milking parlor, and four new livestock bays added.

1954: Fair claimed to be fastest growing in the nation.

1955: Six more bays added to livestock building.

1956: National Junior Tractor Operators Contest established.

1957: Controversy over conflicting fair dates with Oklahoma City and Muskogee.

1958: June 8: Old grandstand burned to the ground, destroying 64,000 sq. ft. of commercial exhibit space and disrupting auto racing from June to August.

1959: New 80' x 800' commercial exhibit building near the race track, paid for by $200,000 insurance and $70,000 fair earnings.

1960: Oklahoma FFA Children's Barnyard opened.

1963: $3.5 million bond issue approved to build 456,000 sq. ft. building for the International Petroleum Exposition and other industrial shows.

1964: New administrative office, first unit of 1963 long range building plan, to be completed.