"Before There Was a Kansas State Fair"

A Moment in Time

Kansas Historical Society

September 2000

By Christy Davis
Kansas State Fair

A monthly series from the Kansas Historical Society

Hutchinson town boosters worked very diligently to gain for their community the title of host city for the Kansas State Fair. The city held its first county fair in 1875 at Southside Park. By 1885, annual attendance exceeded 10,000. In 1900, the Hutchinson Fair Association renamed itself the Central Kansas Fair Association and moved the fair to the east side of Hutchinson's Main Street between 11^th and 17^th Avenues. The fair's new name, representing a region rather than just one city, gave the fair credibility as it vied with other fairs, including Topeka's, for official state fair designation. In 1903, Topekans and Hutchinsonians lobbied for separate bills, each designed to name one of the communities as host of the Kansas State Fair. Although both of these bills failed, another bill was passed that year which legalized premiums given to winners at the Hutchinson Fair. A series of events in 1913 sealed Topeka's fate. That year, Reno County citizens overwhelmingly supported a $50,000 bond issue for additional land purchase and fair improvements. The community used the bond issue to lobby the legislature once again to name Hutchinson the official location of the Kansas State Fair.

With the financial support of the bond issue and the leadership of a diverse Board of State Fair Managers representing communities statewide, the state fair began to grow. By the time of the 1913 legislation, the fair had become more than an agriculture show. It had broadened its mission to provide activities for persons with a variety of interests from pork to politics. The fair's offerings ranged from traditional events such as horse racing to events for the technologically enlightened - such as auto polo.

The growing crowds sought shelter from the heat in buildings which began to dot the grounds. Some of the earliest structures on the current fairgrounds were moved from other locations. These include the Riverside Auditorium (no longer extant) which had been moved in 1901 from Riverside Park to the grounds of the Central Kansas Fair and to the state fair grounds in 1912. Ye Old Mill, a popular water ride, was moved from Riverside Park in 1915.

The 1913 legislation was followed by a period of new construction. Some new buildings, such as the House of Capper, constructed by progressive politician Arthur Capper in 1913 as a venue for his campaign for governor, were constructed during the teens. However, many buildings were constructed during the 1920s in a building boom which mirrored that of many communities during the decade. The construction of many of the buildings, including the Auto Show Building, first phase of the grandstand and the Agriculture Building, was made possible by 1927 legislation.

Although the Great Depression halted private construction, construction continued at the fairgrounds with the help of government relief programs. Relief workers completed the construction of the grandstand in 1930. The 4-H Encampment building was completed in 1935. Fair organizers kept up attendance by offering free admission during this period.

During the past six decades, the state fair has continued to grow. Today's Kansas State Fair represents a culmination of sites, sounds and experiences which the fair has collected over its long history. You can find more information about the Kansas State Fair in the collections of the Kansas Historical Society, including fair posters, history, photographs, and a film of the early days of the fair. The Society is headquartered at the Kansas History Center, 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka KS 66615-1099; 785-272-8681; Fax 785-272-8682, TTY 785-272-8683; www.kshs.org

Photo credit: Kansas Historical Society.

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