ppa 100.org which is a lot better to say than the panama canal exposition. we invite you to the board around you as you imagine what will be here. before we ceremoniously open these doors, you will remember as you come to the exploratorium as my husband and my sons come here that you came to a very different orientation to this space. as dan mentioned you will enter through these doors starting february 20th. we'll peak to see if it's still raining, but before that, i will ask mr. mayor lee and laura to come up here. laura has spent 25 years understanding the world fair, she started when she was ten and it's been a lifelong process. she would like to make a presentation and afterwards we will all exit and i give you a truly amazing scholar and phenomenal woman deeply dedicated and passionate advocate and this book that was brought into world is one of the shining stars to this centennial. >> thank you so much, cynthia. mayor lee, may i beg your presence on back of the historical society and myself i would like to present you with a copy of my book. mayor edw

former president teddy roosevelt had authorized the american effort to build the panama canal at the expositionebrated. and franklin roosevelt attended as the assistant secretary of the navy. it was also a fair of firsts. first transcontinental telephone call. top speed 60 miles per hour. for the first time, an airplane flew at an exposition and for many people it was the first time they had ever seen an airplane. it was also the first time an airplane crashed at an exposition. three weeks after the fair opened, a dangerous stunt went wrong. san francisco's famed aviation pioneer lincoln beachy died when his plane spun into the beach. so a variety of motorists were around. people could take a motorized car, a motorized train or a flier. >>> buildings were never made to last. >> when the fair came to an end the walls of the beautiful dream city began tumbling down. what people tried to save and what remains. >>> when the party that was the panama pacific international exhibition came to an end. the towers and buildings that had welcomed millions came tumbling down. back in 1990 a select few were