Object Details
- General
- The White City built on 140 acres in west London included 120 buildings and 20 pavilions, an elaborate outdoor bandstand with seating in the gardens, and a stadium for the 1908 Summer Olympics. Exhibitions were staged in the summer months every year starting in 1908, first partnering Britain and France for a celebration of industry, culture and empire. In 1909 the Second Imperial International included Russia; in 1910 a Japanese-British exhibition was held. In 1911 the focus shifted to the coronation of George V, with featured themes being the British empire, monarchy, commercial and industrial power. In the following year, 1912, the summer event celebrated ties between Latin America and Britain, and the last great event in 1914 honored the Anglo-American relationship.
- During World War I the site was used for training troops and during World War II the buildings were converted for parachute manufacturing. In the years between the wars the site was used for a British Industries fair. The stadium built for the 1908 Olympics was used for racing greyhounds until it was demolished in 1985. In 1949 the BBC bought some of the property for its first Television Centre
- Persons associated with the property include: Imre Kiralfy (developer of White City and stadium grounds, 1907-1908).
- Creator
- Kiralfy, Imre, 1845-1919
- Collection Creator
- Sears, Thomas Warren, 1880-1966
- Sears & Wendell
- Olmsted Brothers
- Harvard University
- American Society of Landscape Architects
- Place
- United Kingdom -- England -- London Region -- London
- Topic
- Gardens -- England -- London
- Creator
- Kiralfy, Imre, 1845-1919
- See more items in
- Thomas Warren Sears photograph collection
- Thomas Warren Sears photograph collection / Series 1: Photographic Images / International / England
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.SRS, File ENG051
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Thomas Warren Sears photograph collection.
- Collection Rights
- Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes worksheets and photocopies of articles.
- Collection Restrictions
- Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Record ID
- ebl-1562707900944-1562707902452-1
