Missouri History Museum

In October 1909, in order to create a sense of unity, various civic and business organizations in St. Louis sponsored a week-long celebration of the centennial of St. Louis’s incorporation as a town. The celebration included pageants portraying events of the city’s history, an industrial parade, an airplane flight by Glenn Curtiss, a dirigible race, and a balloon race for distance. The week also included the Veiled Prophet pageant and ball.