<strong><p align="center">Creating the Centennial City</strong></p>

The Centennial Exposition Commission chose West Side Park, the former location of the State Fairgrounds, to host the six-month long event. During the exposition, the 200-acre park was officially incorporated as the “Centennial City” with commission members serving as the board of mayor and aldermen.

The commission’s director-general E. C. Lewis sought architects to design and construct white buildings in Colonial or Greek style. The site’s architecture and name were directly modeled after the “White City” from the Chicago World’s Fair. Ten main exhibit buildings formed the center of the park’s 200 acres. They were surrounded by lakes and dozens of smaller buildings and attractions.

<p align="center"><strong>Notable People</strong></p>

John W. Thomas, president of the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railway, led the Tennessee Centennial Exposition as president. He was one of several influential railroad men involved in the event.

E. C. Lewis, an industrial engineer for the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railway, was the exposition’s director-general. He designed Centennial Park following the guidelines of the City Beautiful movement which sought to transform crowded cities into clean, modern spaces with parks and gardens.

Nashville schoolteacher Richard Hill became the chairman of the exposition’s Negro Building after James Napier resigned. He worked with Napier, Preston Taylor, and other prominent Black leaders to promote the Negro Building and highlight the accomplishments of the wider Black community.

Kate Thompson Kirkman, a prominent member of Nashville’s elite, served as president of the exposition’s Woman’s Board. Kirkman enlisted the support of 420 women to create the exhibits for the Woman’s Building.

Artist Sara Ward Conley designed the Woman’s Building, modeling it after the Hermitage. She also chaired the Centennial Arts Committee which selected artwork for display.