San Francisco's Jewel City: The Panama–Pacific International Exposition of 1915 Hardcover – April 1, 2016

Highest recommendation! This is likely the definitive work on the Panama-Pacific Exposition. There may be other books offering more extensive and detailed information on specific aspects of the fair but for a general overview Ackley's book is as good as it gets. Beautifully produced in a style reminiscent of books of the period. The gold stamping and illustrated cover are worth the price of admission alone. I own a number of books on this fair including a five volume study by Frank Morton Todd. This newest addition ranks right up there with the best of my collection.Growing up in the Bay Area, this exposition has always been a familiar part of San Francisco's colorful history. I can even recall finding old, family postcards depicting different scenes from the fair with the exposition stamps attached. And of course, the breathtakingly, majestic Palace of Fine Arts is an artifact admired by every resident and visitor to this beautiful city.Ackley's book is a serious work of investigative research. But it also affords a very enjoyable quick perusal. The book is loaded with period photos, fair ephemera and memorabilia. As nice a collection as your apt to find between any two covers. 100th anniversaries of notable events often produce a flood of new books but rarely do they achieve the measure of excellence this volume manages. I can't imagine a more inviting coffee-table book for any resident of San Francisco and environs.In addition to "Jewel City", I would also recommend another new book on the P.P.I.E. - "Panorama: Tales from San Francisco's 1915 Pan-Pacific International Exposition" by Lee Bruno. This book is a collection of vintage, fair-related photos reproduced in a large, full page format. It would make the perfect companion to Laura Ackley's magisterial work.

This book is beautiful. I don't know that many are familiar with the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915 and the only reason I am is that my father had an original exhibit book from it. Ms Ackley's book has been produced in the same blue cloth cover as the one from 1915 itself. The incredibly detailed research Ms Ackley has done is organized in a thoughtful manner and contains a multitude of historic photographs. But lest one think this is just "history" in the past, she includes interesting details that bring it forward to the present (like the history of the name of the defense contractor Lockheed). Anyone who loves or is interested in San Francisco should be thrilled by this look back to when, less than 10 years after the Great Earthquake of 1906, San Francisco put its best foot forward for all the world to see.

This is obviously a very beautiful and nice size book inside and out. Which makes me deeply regret to have to give the book only 3 stars. First the book certainly is well written and has a lot of facts, but out of 370 + pages only really two pages discuss the sculptors and their works. There is only one large picture of one of the sculpture fountains created by Alexander Stirling Calder. One small picture shows the process of enlarging a work in plaster, another shows three men dwarfed by three huge sculptures, but where are the rest of the sculptures? The author is an architectural historian, so I only assumed she would naturally add more images about architecture and the sculpture. I have seen other books, and have collected some images of sculpture at the exposition so I know that images of the sculptures do exist. I'm sure the author spent a lot of time investigating the expo, so again it saddens me that she left out perhaps better images of the sculpture. What would it cost for another 20 images of the sculptures?For a book to leave out essentially the most inspiring feature of the expo it is sad. Sorry I wasted the money. If anyone has suggestions of other books featuring the sculptures I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Definitely the book to buy about the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Detailed research, good writing, logical presentation, new insights, thorough and balanced coverage of the people, politics and components that made it one of the greatest world's fairs. Beautifully formatted. New information about the fair from planning to demolition, supported with wonderful photographs rarely or newer seen before. If you get only one book about the PPIE, this is the one to get.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ms. Ackley's account of the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Her writing style and her attention to detail about this historic event make this a pleasant read, and also satisfies my inner history nerd. I recommend this as a must-read for anyone seeking to learn about post-earthquake San Francisco.

I can only echo other comments already made. This is a truly magnificent piece of research. But it is by no means a dry textbook -- it is a thoroughly fascinating look at San Francisco as it existed a century ago. Laura Ackley brings the exposition to life so vividly that you will yearn for a time machine to experience the reality.

The book is very well written and is a fantastic quality production. Exquisite illustrations, beautifully laid out and a nice balance between excellent text and nicely done (if sometimes a bit small) photographs.

I was born 50 years too late and in the wrong state, so I missed out on this exhibition. This book is the next best thing to being there. Well-written and lots of interesting photos. Obviously written, edited, and published as a labor of love. Congrats to all involved!