The exposition focused on urban planning and public health.
Lyon's mayor, Édouard Herriot, organised the exposition with the architect Tony Garnier and medical doctor Jules Courmont.
[1] In the Gerland neighbourhood, part of the 7th arrondissement of Lyon, a 184 acres exhibition area was created,[1] with the Tony Ganier exhibition hall, an Alpine village, a horticultural garden, several pavilions for foreign nations, and dedicated pavilions for the French colonies and the silk industry.
[3] After this, many other participants left the exposition and at the official closure on 1 November many pavilions had already been empty for a long time as a result.
The remarkable Halle Tony Garnier,[1] was used as an arms factory during the war and afterwards used as slaughterhouse.