The world's fair site as seen from the
gondola ride that ran over the Mississippi River
The United States Pavilion and monorail
Plagued with attendance problems, the 1984 Louisiana World Expo has the distinction of being the only world's fair that has declared bankruptcy during its run. Many blamed the low attendance on the fact that it was staged just two years after Knoxville's 1982 World's Fair just two states away.
It also has the distinction of being the last expo held in the United States.
Despite its problems, it is fondly remembered by many New Orleans residents and noteworthy architecturally for the groundbreaking post-modern Wonderwall designed by Charles Moore and William Turnball.
Video
World's Fair Special from WDSU Television
1984 World's Fair Site Documentation
60 Minutes program aired after closing day (part 1)
60 Minutes program aired after closing (part 2)
Exclusive ExpoMuseum.com Video
Music from the official Louisiana World Exposition souvenir record
2010 CCTV News Segment
Mandarin language video: ExpoMuseum.com's Urso Chappell talks to Chinese Central TV News about the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition in a series of segments about past world's fairs prior to the opening of Expo 2010
Quick Info
opening date
12 May 1984
closing date
11 November 1984
theme
"The World of Rivers - Fresh Water as a Source of Life"
site description
Along the banks of the Mississippi River in what is now Riverwalk in the Warehouse District
Seemore D. Fair was the official mascot of the 1984 World's Fair as well as the first mascot at any world's fair. It was seen as a way to highlight the fresh water theme and appeal to children.
History
