In the days before cell phones, cable television and the internet, there were huge international fairs which showcased the newest cultural and technological developments around the world.  The largest of these was presented in St. Louis in 1904. Hearthside Museum celebrates Rhode Island’s unique connections to this turn-of-the-century spectacle with an all-day family immersion in the sights, sounds, and feeling of history’s greatest World’s Fair. Hearthside’s World’s Fair 1904: Showcasing Rhode Island’s Legacy of Achievement (Sunday, July 23) includes exhibits inside the house and outside on the grounds. Inside you’ll find artifacts and image galleries showcasing innovations of the 1904 Fair. Outside throughout the grounds,  continuous entertainment and activities will offer a glimpse of what 1904 Fairgoers would have experienced, including period fashions, cultural performances, old-time brass music, carnival–type games, kids activities, demonstrations, antique cars, art displays as well as food that was made popular at that Fair, such as ice cream cones, hot dogs, and Dr. Pepper.

Among the features will be a circus magic show, belly dancing, brass band music, Chinese cultural displays and a Dragon Dance, and Native American drumming, singing, and storytelling.  Artists will be capturing the scenes of the Fair on canvas, while a sculptor will demonstrate how the grand statues and architectural details of the palaces at the Fair were created.

General admission is $10; $5 for students ages 10-17; free for 9 and under.  Cash only. Read an article about this amazing event on GoLocalProv.