California Midwinter International Exposition. Of 1894, commonly referred to as the “Midwinter Exposition” or the “Midwinter Fair”. Officially operated from January 27 to July 5. In San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The fair encompassed 200 acres centered on the park’s current Music Concourse. 120 structures were constructed for the exposition. And more than 2 million people visited. The fair was to feature four major buildings. These buildings included the Fine Arts Building, the Agriculture and Horticulture Building, the Mechanical Arts Building, and the Manufacturers and Liberal Arts building. The Mining Camp was one of the most unique and popular exhibits in the fair. The Mining Camp provided food, games, and an interpretation of what life was like for California miners in 1849. Complete with a painted backdrop of Mount Shasta, the camp and many attractions such as a stagecoach which was held up daily by bandits, gambling tables, a dance hall, saloon, and gold-panning sluices. A man with a banjo sat on top of the stagecoach top. When the coach would stop, he would start to play “The Days of’49” and workers in the Mining Camp would join in during the chorus of the days of old, the days of gold, the days of’49. The’49 Dance Hall and the’49 Theatre were extensions of the exhibit. Each cost an additional 25 cents to enter. The Camp even had its own newspaper called the Weekly Midwinter Appeal which was edited by Sam Davis. The dance hall was one of the most popular attraction within the Mining Camp. One reason for the popularity and appeal of the dance hall is the charming Spanish dancers. Exhibits like the dance hall allowed men to indulge in their fantasies. Check out my other listings now for more Chinese antiques! Dear valued customers, I regularly list Chinese antiques – coins, banknotes, medals, important documents, engravings, carvings, boxes, cases, frames, postcards, photos, stereoviews, fans, hats, ranks, badges, finials, embroideries, bonds, books, pocket watches, silver items etc etc. Track Page Views With. Auctiva’s FREE Counter.