California Exposition

The California legislature created the State Agricultural Society to promote California's reputation for farming and industry.{{cite California statute |year=1854 |chapter=LI |page=56 |title=An Act to Incorporate a State Agricultural Society, and Appropriate Money for its Support}} [https://clerk.assembly.ca.gov/sites/clerk.assembly.ca.gov/files/archive/Statutes/1854/1854.PDF#page=56 direct URL] An agricultural exposition was organized and held in San Francisco in 1854,{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DAC18541006.2.3 |title=The State Agricultural Fair |date=October 6, 1854 |newspaper=Daily Alta California |access-date=13 June 2023}} and California Historic Landmark #861 marks the site.{{cite web |url=https://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-861 |title=CHL No. 861 First California State Fair Site - San Francisco |website=California Historical Landmarks |access-date=13 June 2023}} Given that travel was difficult in that era, the next several annual expositions were held at different locations around the state, including Sacramento (1855),{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18550926.2.6 |title=State Agricultural Fair |date=September 26, 1855 |newspaper=Sacramento Daily Union |access-date=13 June 2023}} San Jose (1856),{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18561010.2.2 |title=The State Agricultural Fair |date=October 10, 1856 |newspaper=Sacramento Daily Union |access-date=13 June 2023}} Stockton (1857),{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18571001.2.2 |title=Opening address at the State Fair |date=October 1, 1857 |newspaper=Sacramento Daily Union |access-date=13 June 2023}} and Marysville (1858).{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18580826.2.2 |title=Annual Address delivered before the State Agricultural Society, at its fifth fair, at Marysville, August 25, 1858 |author=Bell, Samuel B. |date=August 26, 1858 |newspaper=Sacramento Daily Union |access-date=13 June 2023}}

In 1859, the exposition returned to Sacramento, and it was decided that a permanent site should be found. Capitol Park, a six block site bounded by E, H, 20th and 22nd Streets ({{coord|38.580|N|121.477|W}}) was purchased and was home to the state fair for the next fifty years.{{cite web |url=https://stocktonblvdpartnership.org/take-me-to-the-fair-then-and-now/ |title=Take Me to the Fair: Then and Now |date=October 5, 2020 |website=Stockton Boulevard Partnership |access-date=13 June 2023}}

Growth in population and attendance forced the purchase of {{convert|80|acre|m2}} just outside the city limits on Stockton Boulevard ({{coord|38.552|N|121.452|W}}), and the first fair was held there in 1909.{{cite web |url=https://sacramentopress.com/2012/07/16/tracking-state-fair-history-wondering-where-its-going/ |title=Tracking State Fair History, Wondering Where its Going |publisher=Sacramento Press |first=Alex |last=Cosper |date=July 16, 2012 |accessdate=May 23, 2019}} But World War I interrupted the fair in 1917–18. Continued growth caused that site to be expanded by {{convert|75|acre|m2}} in 1937. During and after World War II, from 1942 to 1947, the Fair was suspended and the fairgrounds were occupied by the Army.{{cite web |url=https://health.ucdavis.edu/aboutus/150th-anniversary/articles/mid-century-new-drugs-more-change.html |title=New drugs, big neighbors and more change |website=UC Davis Health |access-date=13 June 2023}} During its formative years (1929–1942?), the California Highway Patrol used some of the State Fair facilities as an unofficial "training academy", later using other state-owned areas in the Sacramento area for training use until the current CHP Academy was opened in 1976.

In 1948, the state purchased approximately 900 acres of undeveloped land along the American River north of downtown Sacramento. Funds were not allocated to begin construction on this land until 1963, and the State Fair continued at the Stockton Boulevard grounds until 1967. The California Exposition was dedicated on Monday, May 22, 1967. Governor Ronald Reagan delivered the dedicatory address at the 630 acre site on the American River. {{Cite web|title=California Exposition Dedication, May 22, 1967.|url=https://oac.cdlib.org/search?style=oac4;Institution=California%20State%20Library::California%20History%20Room;idT=ACT-9255|access-date=2020-09-29|website=oac.cdlib.org}} Then in 1968, Governor Ronald Reagan opened the new "Cal Expo" site, which covers over {{convert|350|acre|km2}} of developed land at {{coord|38.593|N|121.435|W}}. The Architect of the Exposition Center was San Francisco Architecture firm Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons (WBE), Architects (Partnership). The building is an example of Modern Architecture in the Brutalist Style, popular in the late 1960's.

Cal Expo has seen limited changes since it opened in 1968. Following the tragic attacks of 9/11, a memorial plaza was installed in 2002. In 2012, the Disneyland Resort donated to Cal Expo the iconic 'CALIFORNIA' letters that previously stood in front of Disney California Adventure from its 2001 opening until 2011. The letters now stand at the entrance to the Expo.

In addition to the annual State Fair, Cal Expo hosts a number of other community, trade and business events, including the annual State Fair Gala (supporting scholarships), Sacramento County Fair, International Sportsman Expo, Western States Horse Expo and a number of other RV, auto and special collectible trade shows.

The one-mile dirt racetrack at Cal Expo hosts live thoroughbred racing during the annual State Fair and live harness racing (September through May), in addition to special events like the Sacramento Mile Auto-race.{{cn|date=June 2015}} The old California State Fairgrounds Race Track hosted USAC National Championship races.

The fair was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in California; the 159th was deferred to 2022.

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File:Monorail at the 2012 California State Fair held in Sacramento, California LCCN2013633012.tif]]

Cal Expo is home to one of three operating permanent monorail system in California - the others can be found at Disneyland and Gilroy Gardens. The iconic monorail was installed during the creation of its existing grounds in 1968 by Universal Mobility Incorporated. The Monorail ride is only open for public use during the annual State Fair and is a great way to see the grounds from above. The storage facility for the monorail trams are located in the northwest corner of the grounds. Each tram features a different California symbol, like the California Golden Poppy or California Quail.

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File:The 2012 California State Fair held in Sacramento, California LCCN2013633020.tif Magical Midway" (2012), by Carol Highsmith]]

Carnival rides and games are operated by Butler Amusements, whose first year at the state fair was in 2009.{{cite news |url=https://carnivalwarehouse.com/newsserver/216 |title=Butler Amusements signs 10 year deal with Cal Expo |author=Weber, Ron |date=March 11, 2009 |work=Carnival Warehouse |access-date=13 June 2023}} Rides and games previously had been operated by Ray Cammack Shows for several years before that.

The Show Arena or Rodeo Arena 1, is used for various events such as rodeos, concerts and monster trucks.{{cite web |url=https://calexpostatefair.com/plan-your-event/facilities/show-arena/ |title=Show Arena | website=Cal Expo |access-date=2 February 2024}} It was also used for motorcycle speedway in from 1974 to 1979{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaybikes.com/tracks/CaliforniaTracks.htm |title=Californian speedway tracks | website=Speedway Bikes.com |access-date=2 February 2024}} and was the venue for the American qualifying round of the Speedway World Championship in 1976.{{cite web |url=https://dlprezes.pl.tl/SPEEDWAY--_--Indywidualne-mistrzostwa-%26%23346%3Bwiata-----------k1-World-Speedway-Championship-k2-.htm |title=World Championship |website=Metal Speedway |access-date=2 February 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.org/history/ |title=World Championship | website=Speedway.org |access-date=2 February 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|California State Fair}}

• [http://CalExpoStateFair.com Official web site of the California State Fair]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110208003411/http://funnevergrowsold.com/ Promotional web site]
• [http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/fe/ CDFA Division of Fairs and Expositions (governing body)]
• [http://www.noehill.com/sf/landmarks/cal0861.asp California Historic Landmark 861]
• [http://www.virtualemotion.com/vt/calexpo_virtual_tour/TourWeaver_calexpo.html California State Fair Virtual Tour (Java)]
• [http://www.calxharness.com/ Cal Expo Horse Racing]

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Category:California State Fair

Category:Fairs in California

Category:Annual fairs

Category:Annual events in California

Category:Agriculture in California

Category:August

Category:September

Category:Culture of Sacramento, California

Category:Tourist attractions in Sacramento, California

Category:UM people movers

Category:Festivals established in 1854

Category:1854 establishments in California