The old California State Fairgrounds Race Track hosted USAC National Championship races. The one-mile dirt racetrack at Cal Expo hosts live thoroughbred racing during the annual State Fair and live harness racing (September through May), in addition to special events like the Sacramento Mile Auto-race. In addition to the annual State Fair, Cal Expo hosts a number of other community, trade and business events, including the annual State Fair Gala (supporting scholarships), Sacramento County Fair, International Sportsman Expo, Western States Horse Expo and a number of other RV, auto and special collectible trade shows. The letters now stand at the entrance to the Expo. In 2012, the Disneyland Resort donated to Cal Expo the iconic 'CALIFORNIA' letters that previously stood in front of Disney California Adventure from its 2001 opening until 2011. Following the tragic attacks of 9/11, a memorial plaza was installed in 2002. Then in 1968, Governor Ronald Reagan opened the new 'Cal Expo' site, which covers over 350 acres (1.4 km 2) of developed land at 38☃5′35″N 121☂6′06″W / 38.593°N 121.435°W / 38.593 -121.435.Ĭal Expo has seen limited changes since it opened in 1968. Governor Ronald Reagan delivered the dedicatory address at the 630 acre site on the American River. The California Exposition was dedicated on Monday, May 22, 1967. Funds were not allocated to begin construction on this land until 1963, and the State Fair continued at the Stockton Boulevard grounds until 1967. In 1948, the state purchased approximately 900 acres of undeveloped land along the American River north of downtown Sacramento. During its formative years (1929–1942?), the California Highway Patrol used some of the State Fair facilities as an unofficial 'training academy', later using other state-owned areas in the Sacramento area for training use until the current CHP Academy was opened in 1976. During and after World War II, from 1942 to 1947, the Fair was suspended and the fairgrounds were occupied by the Army. Continued growth caused that site to be expanded by 75 acres (300,000 m 2) in 1937. But World War I interrupted the fair in 1917–18. Growth in population and attendance forced the purchase of 80 acres (320,000 m 2) just outside the city limits on Stockton Boulevard ( 38☃3′07″N 121☂7′07″W / 38.552°N 121.452°W / 38.552 -121.452), and the first fair was held there in 1909. Capitol Park, a six block site bounded by E, H, 20th and 22nd Streets ( 38☃4′48″N 121☂8′37″W / 38.580°N 121.477°W / 38.580 -121.477) was purchased and was home to the state fair for the next fifty years. In 1859, the exposition returned to Sacramento, and it was decided that a permanent site should be found. Given that travel was difficult in that era, the next several annual expositions were held at different locations around the state, including Sacramento (1855), San Jose (1856), Stockton (1857), and Marysville (1858). An agricultural exposition was organized and held in San Francisco in 1854, and California Historic Landmark #861 marks the site. The California legislature created the State Agricultural Society to promote California's reputation for farming and industry. The California Exposition and State Fair Police provides safety and security services to the Exposition. The California Exposition is a self-sufficient operation that receives no government funding but still has an estimated economic impact of more than $250 million on the region. During the annual California State Fair more than 2,000 seasonal temporary employees are hired. Cal Expo is governed by an appointed 11-member Board of Directors and daily operations are managed by the chief executive officer (selected by the Board). The California Exposition and State Fair ( Cal Expo) is an independent state agency established by law in the California Food and Agriculture codes. ( June 2015) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations.

State fair at cal expo