About the Centennial of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition

February 20, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE), the World’s Fair celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal and showcasing San Francisco—its recovery from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire and its world trade potential. Throughout 2015, the PPIE100, a citywide consortium of cultural, civic, and historical organizations, will conduct centennial programs to commemorate the PPIE’s historical significance and to reflect on its legacy. Collaborating on what San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee described as “a uniquely San Francisco way to celebrate a centennial—to focus on then, now and the future” are:

Presenting Sponsor

On January 25, 1915, as one of the earliest events of the San Francisco Panama Pacific International Exposition, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (now AT&T) conducted the first transcontinental telephone call between New York City, San Francisco, Jekyll Island, Georgia and Washington, DC. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone and co-founder of AT&T, initiated the historic call with a group of dignitaries in New York. His one-time assistant Thomas Watson received the call in San Francisco, AT&T President Theodore Vail participated from Jekyll Island, and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson spoke from the White House.

In recognition of this transformational moment in telecommunications history, and over a century of innovation milestones,  AT&T is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

Opening Weekend Sponsor

Centennial Sponsor

Exposition sponsors

Sponsors

  • Maurice Kanbar
  • Town School
  • D.N. & E.
  • Walter & Company
  • The Friend Family
  • Koret Foundation
  • Recology
  • Tooley Trust
  • Yerba Buena Community
    Benefit District
  • Steve & Barbara Hearst
  • Autodesk
  • Barbro and Bernard Osher
  • Christy & Stephen McAvoy
  • Cody Anderson Wasney Architects
  • Donna Ewald Huggins
  • EHDD
  • The Ferry Building
  • Michelle & Chris Meany
  • Pier 39
  • Platinum Advisors
  • Port of San Francisco
  • McCalls
  • Academy of Art University

Organizing partners

core partners