Life — December 3, 1914 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Panama-California Exposition Advertisement This is a 1915 promotional advertisement for the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. The page celebrates the opening of the Panama Canal by encouraging Americans to visit the exposition, which showcases Spanish colonial architecture and southwestern landscapes. The text frames this as "the West of Your Country"—positioning the exposition as a chance to experience American frontier heritage and natural wonders (Grand Canyon, Yosemite, etc.). It's notable for marketing California's Spanish past alongside American expansion, emphasizing that 1915 is "the time for you to see it." The accompanying photographs show ornate Spanish colonial buildings with domed towers and courtyards filled with visitors, establishing the exposition's architectural appeal. The circular seal indicates official California endorsement.