New Orleans 1885: Colorado State Exhibit.....

Just inside the north entrance of the Government & States Building was located the 6,600 square-foot exhibit of the State of Colorado. Containing one of the most unique displays at the New Orleans exposition, Colorado presented a realistic representation of the Rocky Mountains through the use of painted canvas backgrounds and other artificial methods. Farms, roadways, railways, forests, streams, lakes, gorges, and snow-capped mountains were reproduced in fine detail. The state's agricultural products, consisting of wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye, and numerous grasses, were shown in abundance; and the Colorado Agricultural College showed improvements made by selective cross-breeding of various grains. However, Colorado's greatest display was of the numerous ores and minerals found in the state. An extensive exhibit of gold and silver ores filled long tables and stands, and a miner's cabin was constructed entirely of glittering ores. Caves and nooks were also realistically reproduced, and contained countless gems and minerals.