[1][2][3][4] To overcome weakening trade with Latin America and the Caribbean and seeing the benefits of fairs like the Cotton States and International Exposition held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1895, a railroad executive, J. H. Averill, advocated holding an exposition in Charleston in the News and Courier.

J. C. Hemphill, the editor of the News and Courier, and Frederick W. Wagener, a German immigrant, and local businessman, were two early supporters of hosting a world's fair in Charleston.

There was support from the business community and the South Carolina General Assembly allocated $50,000, but the Charleston aristocracy felt that the fair was unseemly self-promotion.

[2][3][4] Wagener, who was president of the exposition company, suggested that 250 acres (100 ha) of his property on the Ashley River be used for the fair.

The other major buildings were: Administration, Art, Auditorium, Fisheries, Machinery, Mines and Forestry, Negro, Transportation, and Women.

Statuary included "The Aztec" by Louis A. Gudebrod, "The Negro" by Charles A. Lopez, and "The Huguenot" by Elsie Ward.

[5] The midway had a carnival with thrill rides, a 400-foot (122 m) long painting of the Battle of Manassas, and an Eskimo village.

The routes touched all points of interest from the Sunken Gardens and the Court of Palaces to the headquarters for hoky-poky.