Avenue of Progress
Planting, some of the best landscape effects in Exposition. Against buildings, Monterey cypress; banked by Lawson cypress in front and between these, spruces and Spanish fir.
Machinery Palace, Ward & Blohme, of San Francisco, architects. Italian Renaissance, inspired by Roman baths. Like Baths of Caracalla. Largest building of its kind in world; three blocks long, seven acres in area.
Banners, by Ryan, heraldic designs of early Spanish explorers and soldiers.
Lophantha lawn, designed by John McLaren, trees trimmed off four feet above ground, and trained to grow flat alongside Palace of Varied Industries.
East facade of Varied Industries, made Italian to harmonize with Italian Machinery Palace.
Main portal, like gateways of old Roman walled cities.
“The Miner,” in niches of gateway, by Albert Weinert of New York.
Small portals Italian, fine color effect; lattice-work, orange, blue, light green’.
Sculpture on Machinery Palace, by Haig Patigian, of San Francisco.
Large columns in front and in vestibule of half dome, imitation Sienna marble.
Small portals, orange columns at sides, pink niche, blue dome, orange above dome; pleasing tone,
Corinthian columns at sides of portals; eagles at corners of capitals, at top, symbolize inspiration.
Frieze around drums at base of columns “Genii of Machinery,” by Haig Patigian; eyes closed, signifying Power of the spirit, or blind fate.
Figures in triangular spaces on either side above doorways, “Application of Power to Machinery,” by Haig Patigian.
Figures on tall Sienna marble columns, “Power,” “by Haig Patigian. “Steam Power,” with lever. “Invention,” carrying figure with flying wings, suggesting quickness of mind. “Imagination, eyes closed. Eagle bird of inspiration, about to fly. “Electricity,” foot on earth, carrying symbol.
Eagles repeated on bar, the entablature, across front of domes; symbol of inspiration.
Coloring in vestibule of Machinery Palace: Finely harmonized; brown and brick-colored walls; orange and blue ceilings; green lattice work.
“Genius of Creation,” group before court leading to Court of Ages, Daniel Chester French. Spirit above, a woman, creating life from shapeless mass of earth below. Man at left, courageous and enterprising; woman at right, timid, hesitating. Serpent, symbol of wisdom, coiled about mass.