There was optimism in the air in the fall of 1907 as Oklahoma waited th to be proclaimed the 46 state of the Union by President Theodore Roosevelt. Citizens of Oklahoma and Indian territories had complied with Roosevelt’s command to approve a state constitution and to prepare to join the territories into one new state. As statehood approached, business leaders of Oklahoma City considered the idea of a State Fair to boost awareness of the city and the future state. A STATE FAIR FOR A NEW STATE klahoma City leaders Ounsuccessfully tried to generate enthusiasm for a city Fair several times in the final years of the nineteenth century and began the new century with a lackluster effort in 1902. However, the talk of statehood and an unexpected economic boom provided needed resources in 1907 to allow city fathers to unite behind a new cause—a State Fair of Oklahoma for the new State of Oklahoma. Cotton prices skyrocketed in 1906 and 1907 and Oklahoma A popular attraction for the first State Fair was the Carousel. City, with the help of converging railroad lines, became the investors to build printing plants, Commerce, founded in 1902, undisputed economic center bakeries, lumber mills, and flour which sought to promote of the future state. The city’s and grist mills. Even though the city as the “Eden of population tripled from 1900 politics resulted in Guthrie Opportunity.” The chamber was in 1907 to 32,452. Oklahoma being named the first state hungry to host conventions and City was a leader in fiber and capital, it was Oklahoma City meetings which would bring food processing as wholesale that flourished along the North outsiders to Oklahoma City and distributors set up shop to Canadian River. be given the opportunity to show service outlying communities. The beginning of the idea off the explosion of economic With raw materials and for a State Fair came from the and cultural growth. Leaders expanding markets came Oklahoma City Chamber of such as Henry Overholser, 13 35