Tower of Jewels (PPIE)

The Tower of Jewels was the central building at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, the 1915 world's fair held in San Francisco, California.

It was covered with more than 100,000 1-7/8 inch (47 mm) diameter Novagems, cut glass faceted "jewels", that sparkled in the sunlight, and were illuminated at night by more than fifty spotlights.

"[2] In front of the Tower, the Fountain of Energy flowed at the center of the South Gardens, flanked by the Palace of Horticulture on the west and the Festival Hall to the east.

The Tower was a temporary structure, constructed of staff, a combination of plaster and burlap-like fiber applied over a skeleton structure of wood and steel.

The Novagems that adorned the tower were removed prior to demolition, and a small brass medallion attached to each "jewel" indicating that it hung on the tower during the exposition.