On November 2, 1915, San Francisco threw open its gates to a glorious world's fair.

A reborn fog city hit the spotlight when the Panama-Pacific Exposition celebrated San Francisco Day. At around 348,472 attendees, the occasion brought in 70% of the city's population. As one of the largest events in SF history, the exposition was organized to commemorate the construction of the Panama Canal, as well as the city bouncing back after the 1906 earthquake. Attend this fantastical affair through vintage photos, drawings, and memorabilia.

Turning on the Fountain of Energy, Opening Day

via The Bancroft Library, U.C. Berkeley

Over 250,000 people arrived at the Festival Hall to see the opening of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, on February 20, 1915. This photo shows the turning on of the Fountain of Energy as part of the celebration.