Exceedingly Rare 1890 Texas Spring Palace Poster to be Auctioned by Heritage!

Dallas, TX: Texas' first "theme park," the Texas Spring Palace was built in 1889 in Fort Worth as a regional and agricultural fair designed to attract settlers and investors to the North Texas area. Spearheaded by Robert A. Cameron, immigration agent for the Fort Worth and Denver Railway, the Fair quickly gained support throughout the state. The campaign was a great success, quickly boosting immigration and financial investment in the Fort Worth region.

The fair's central exhibit hall, which was completed in a mere 31 days, was painted deep green and sported a central dome, grand hallways, and impressive cupolas. Decorated inside and out with local agricultural and commercial products such as wheat from Wichita Falls, cotton, and cornstalk and cobs, the main dome of the Palace was second in size only to that of the national Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the duration of the fair, the building and its grounds played host to a grand variety of musical acts, dramatic performances, and even featured the death-defying feat of a man who parachuted from a hot air balloon at 1,000 feet. There were also arts and crafts exhibits, including mosaics and large dioramas built of grain and seed depicting locations such as Galveston Harbor, and the Palace was surrounded by gardens of various Texan and Mexican flora.

Tragically, the life of the Texas Spring Palace was just as ephemeral as that of a wildflower. In it's first season, the Palace opened from May 29 through June 20, 1889. Although it was not a financial success, the fair produced great enthusiasm in the community, increasing tourism and boosting the recognition of local businesses.

The palace's second - and last - season ran from May 10 to May 31, 1890. The halls of the building were expanded and all local businesses shut down temporarily to support the on-going fair. The second season of the exhibition was undeniably a success, albeit one that ended in catastrophe. On the evening of May 30, 1890, as the Elgin Watch Factory Band finished its set and the attendees prepared for the nightly ball, a fire quickly swept through the building and engulfed it. There were many injuries among the seven thousand attendees, but only Alfred S. Hayne, a visiting Englishman, lost his life saving the lives of others, securing an honored place in Texas history.

"The poster offered in our upcoming auction, a true piece of classic Texas history printed to promote the fair's second season, is one of only three of its kind, and is considered to be the finest surviving example," said Larry Boettigheimer, Director of Texas Art Auctions for Heritage. "I'd invite anyone interested to visit www.HA.com, where they can view enlargeable, full-color images of each lot, read our complete and informative catalog descriptions, and even place their bids online from the comfort and convenience of their home or office."

Heritage's Texas Art auction will be held live in Dallas, Texas, on May 19, 2007. For more information, please visit www.HA.com/FineArt.

Texas Spring Palace
Poster
25in. x 20in.
Unsigned
ESTIMATE: $8,000 - $12,000

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of fine and decorative arts are invited to www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email FineArt@HA.com or call (800) 872-6467 extension 444.

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