The exhibit made by Missouri at the World’s Fair was the result of the labors of the board of commissioners to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, appointed by Governor A.M.  Dockery, under the direction of which the $1,000,000 voted by the people of Missouri for an exhibit of the State’s resources were expended.  At the general election in November, 1900, the people adopted a constitutional amendment permitting the legislature of this State to appropriate $1,000,000 for World’s Fair expenses.  A bill appropriating the amount and providing for a commission to direct its expenditure was passed by the next general assembly and was signed by the governor April 17, 1901.  The same bill was reenacted in 1903 and was signed by the governor March 24, 1903.  On the 28th of May, 1901, Governor Dockery appointed as the board of commissioners:  M.T.  Davis, of Springfield; F.J.  Moss, of St. Joseph; B.H.  Bonfey, of Unionville; W.H.  Marshall, of Morehouse; L.F.  Parker, of St. Louis; D.P.  Stroup, of Norborne; N.H.  Gentry, of Sedalia; J.O.  Allison, of New London, and H.C.  McDougall, of Kansas City.  Mr. McDougall resigned and J.H.  Hawthorne, of Kansas City, was appointed his successor.  When the law was reenacted in 1903 the board was reappointed.  The board elected M.T.  Davis president, F.J.  Moss vice-president, B.H.  Bonfey secretary, and W.H.  Marshall treasurer.  Later the ill health of Mr. Marshall caused his temporary absence from the State, and J.H.  Hawthorne succeeded him as treasurer.

The Missouri State building was erected at a cost, including furnishings, of $250,000.  The keynotes of the Missouri building were public comfort, culture, and social enjoyment.  A golden dome surmounted by an emblematic statue of “The Spirit of Missouri” crowned the building.  Over the main entrance was this inscription:  “Embracing within her confines all the elements of an empire devoted to all the arts and sciences that advance civilization, Missouri, the central State of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, greets her sister States and welcomes the world.”  Around the building were the names of great Missourians:  Thomas Hart Benton, Francis P. Blair, B. Gratz Brown, David R. Atchison, David Barton, Meriwether Lewis, Edward Bates, Lewis F. Linn, Lewis V. Bogy, Aylett H. Buckner, John S. Phelps, James S. Green.  The building contained rooms adapted for various purposes, two large halls in either wing, a commodious auditorium or State hall, in which conventions were held, a handsome rotunda with brilliant electric fountain, the suite of Governor Dockery, men’s parlors, women’s parlors, press room, and executive offices.  On the second floor were rooms fittingly furnished.  The building was warmed by steam in cold weather and refrigerated by cold air in warm weather.  The approaches and elevations of the building were adorned with statuary, heroic figures of Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte being placed at the main entrance.  In the west hall were placed a collection of paintings by Missouri artists and the fine bell presented by the citizens of the State to the battle ship Missouri.  The mural decorations in the rotunda consisted of four pendentives illustrating the prehistoric savage, developing and productive eras in the State’s history.  The decorations in the dome embodied a historical allegory, tracing the epochs in the development of the Middle West.