Jamestown Exposition

On 5 February 1901 a resolution incorporating the Jamestown Exposition Company was passed by the Senate. According to this ambitious plan, the company would "hold a great exposition in some one of the cities of Virginia, in which all our sister States, and, if possible, all the English-speaking people of the earth, shall be invited to participate, and where shall be displayed the products of the peace and the fruits of free institution in all realms."

Planning for the exposition to commemorate the founding of Jamestown began in earnest shortly after the passage of this resolution. Although the City of Richmond and a number of communities in Hampton Roads expressed interest in hosting the event, Norfolk was eventually selected as the site. Organizers called for naval and military demonstrations, historical and government exhibits, parades, and commemorative speeches as part of the celebration.

Nearly all plans revolved around the Jamestown Exposition Company securing funds from private citizens and from local, state, and federal governments. The commonwealth generously appropriated funding, and local governments contributed as much as possible from their much smaller budgets. However, the federal government was hesitant to invest in the exposition, as a number of contemporary exhibitions in the United States had proven to be financial disasters. Eventually, limited funds were secured from Congress that allowed the company to proceed with its plans.

Overall, the Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition of 1907 was a mixture of success and failure. The event brought thousands of people to the state and drew worldwide attention to the commonwealth.