Official Title: Louisiana Purchase Exposition Theme: The centenary of the purchase of the territory of Louisiana on 30 April 1803 Opened on: 30 April 1904 in front of the Louisiana Monument Duration: 30 April - 1 December, 216 days Venue: Forest Park, west of St. Louis Start of planning work: 22 September 1889 Symbols: The Louisiana Monument, the festival hall, the Pike pleasure park Organisation: Company for the representation of the shareholders: Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company und commission for the representation of the government with 9 commissioners Responsible: The President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company: David R. Francis 1st Vice-President: Corwin Spencer Treasurer: M. H. Thompson General secretary: Walter B. Stevens In charge of building work: Isaac S. Taylor Director responsible for the exhibitions/exhibits: Frederick J. V. Skiff Director of Finance: Norris B. Gregg President of the Board of Lady Managers: Mrs Daniel Manning Size of the site: 500 hectares Exhibitors: 15,009 American exhibitors System of order: 16 departments, 144 groups, 802 classes Head Architect: Isaac S. Taylor, assisted by Emmanuel L. Masqueray Foreign exhibitors: 60 American pavilions: 50 International thematic pavilions: 14 Foreign pavilions: 21 Visitors: 19,694,855, 30,000,000 being expected Price of entrance tickets: $0.50 for adults, $0.25 for children, free admittance for members of the jury, the congresses and for workers Expenditure: Between $25,000,000$ and $31,500,000 Takings: $26,000,000 in addition to entrance fees and the contributions from the exhibitors $5 million from the United States $5 million from the City of St. Louis $5 million share capital Jury members: 1,048 Awards: 39,158 Grands Prix, gold, silver and bronze medals 38% of all prizes went to Americans: 15,009 awards, including 837 Grands Prix and 3,955 gold medals.