However, the Civil War interrupted the annual fair when the Fairgrounds were used as a Union encampment known as Benton Barracks.

In the early 1880s, the association fell upon hard times and was replaced with the St. Louis Fair and Jockey Club.

[4] However, the revival of the Fairgrounds suffered another blow with the abolition of gambling on horse racing in Missouri in June 1905.

[7] Folk signed the Anti-Breeders Act, directly leading to the permanent closure of the St. Louis Fairground Track.

At the corner of Grand Boulevard and Natural Bridge Avenue, the facade of the old bear pits still stands at the park's main entrance.