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The Botanical Gardens occupied a large rectangular area in front of the Panama-California Exposition's Botanical Building; and were enclosed by the Home Economy & Sacramento Valley Counties Buildings on the west, and the Varied Industries & Food Products Buildings on the east. Extending north from El Prado were two main walkways giving access to the Botanical Gardens, between which was located a large rectangular lagoon, known as La Laguna de las Flores, measuring 193-feet long by 43-feet wide. 
At the head of the lagoon was a balustraded bridge, crossed by a transverse walk. At the west end of this walkway was situated a Roman-style pergola, fronted by a tiled terrace with a low iron railing; while at the walkway's east terminus was located a balustraded terrace, backed by a tile-roofed arcade connected to the Food Products Building. Also located near each end of the transverse walkway were raised circular basins, each containing an ornately designed Baroque fountainhead. 
The Botanical Gardens were surrounded by a thick growth of eucalyptus trees, and planted with spacious lawns, shrubbery, palms, and many flowering plants. A low hedge of blue lobelia framed La Laguna de las Flores, and the bordering walkways were lined with Italian-style benches and ornate bronze-green light standards. The view south across the lagoon, toward El Prado, revealed a mirrored reflection of a tile-roofed colonnade and the neighboring towers of the Commerce and Industries & Foreign and Domestic Arts Buildings.
The Botanical Building was located north-east of the Panama-California Exposition's Home Economy Building, and faced El Prado at the end of a long rectangular lagoon. The steel-framed permanent building measured 250-feet in length by 75-feet wide, and was the world's largest wood-lath covered structure. The entrance consisted of two small domed pavilions, connected by a triple-arched arcade, set in front of a central lath-covered dome topped by an octagon-shaped lantern. Immediately in front of the building's entrance arcade was located a small lagoon, filled with lotus and water lilies, abutted by a balustraded bridge ornamented by large decorative urns. 
Arched windows, deeply set into a stuccoed facade, surrounded the structure; and a spacious glass-roofed conservatory extended north from the building's large central dome. Within the main redwood-lath covered structure were planted a variety of palms, ferns, bamboo, vines, flowers, and many other plants found throughout Central and South America; while in the heated conservatory was situated a large pool filled with delicate water-lilies, surrounded by numerous varieties of exotic tropical plants.
The Foreign and Domestic Arts Building was located on the south side of El Prado, across from the Home Economy Building, and faced the Panama-California Exposition's Plaza de Panama. The T-shaped building was ornamented in the Plateresque style, and was loosely based on the design of the Hospice de Santa Cruz located in Toledo, Spain. Two similar entrance pavilions were located on the building's north and west sides; and a delicately ornamented square tower was located at the north-west corner, balancing the tower on the Home Economy Building. 
Each of the entrance pavilions consisted of a heavily ornamented archway, with a balcony located above. At each side of the balcony was situated an abundantly ornamented arched window, covered by a wood grille, and topped with a pediment at the building's cornice level. Centered over the entrance, and extending above the cornice, was a large stylized coat-of-arms representing the Pan-American Union. The corner tower featured an open pavilion, with each of its four walls containing a central arch flanked by rectangular openings. The upper portions of the tower's walls, surrounding the openings, were covered in delicate flower-shaped ornamentation, and surmounted by a finial-topped parapet. In contrast, the building's south wing and east facade were designed in a simple Moorish style, consisting of plain walls and unadorned windows. At the north-east corner of the building was located a second square tower, balancing a tower on the adjacent Commerce and Industries Building. Exhibits from Japan occupied the majority of the building's interior, in addition to exhibits from several European countries.
The Home Economy Building was located on the north side of El Prado, immediately east of the Panama-California Exposition's Plaza de Panama. Surrounded by arcades on two sides, the building's overall design represented the urban palaces found in Mexico City, with a corner tower modeled on that of the Palacio de Monterey, in Salamanca, Spain. Two ornamented pavilions, located on the west and south sides of the building, formed the building's entrances. 
Over each entrance was situated a square heavily-ornamented and bracketed balcony, flanked by simple iron-railed balconies at each side; with a richly-decorated parapet extending around each pavilion's top edge. The building's corner tower consisted of a square open pavilion, with three balustraded arches on each of its four sides, and cartouches at the corners. A medallion-decorated parapet surmounted the tower's cornice; and two pedimented windows, topped with finials, decorated the tower's lower walls. Within the building were located exhibits relating to modern conveniences for the home; consisting of numerous electrical appliances, as well as a complete model kitchen.
Prominently located at the north end of the Panama-California Exposition's Plaza de Panama was the imposing Sacramento Valley Counties Building. The general design of the structure was Italian, covered with ornamentation in the Spanish Baroque style. Decorative columns, scrolls, medallions, and cartouches covered the facade; and seven large archways opened into a vestibule extending the length of the building. The vestibule opened at each end into pergola-topped arcades, 
connecting to the Science and Education Building on the west, and the Home Economy Building on the east. Situated above each of the vestibule's seven archways was a decorative iron-railed balcony, with similar balconies placed in the pavilions at both ends of the structure; and a richly colored and gilded overhanging cornice surmounted the building's walls, topped by a hipped terra-cotta tile roof. An expansive concrete terrace, reached by a broad flight of steps from the Plaza de Panama, fronted the vestibule, and was also used as a stage for the Exposition Band and other performances. 
At night the building's facade was illuminated by four triple-globed lighting standards, located upon the terrace; and the interior of the vestibule was indirectly lit by incandescent lighting hidden in the cornices surrounding the arched and vaulted ceiling. Inside the structure were extensive exhibits, representing the agricultural counties of California's Sacramento Valley.
The Plaza de Panama was the center of the Panama-California Exposition's daily activities and entertainment, and was designed after the manner of the central town plazas found throughout Spain and Mexico. The large asphalt-paved space was bisected by El Prado, and opened on the south side to the Esplanade and the Plaza de los Estados. Surrounded by buildings on its three other sides, the Plaza de Panama was flanked on the west by the Science and Education and Indian Arts Buildings; and on the east by the Home Economy and Foreign and Domestic Arts Buildings. 
At the plaza's north end was located the Sacramento Valley Counties Building, fronted by a broad flight of stairs and two tall flagstaffs. Heavy wooden benches, backed by Blackwood acacia trees and ornate bronze-green light-standards, lined the curbs; and ornate entrance pavilions gave access to the arcades surrounding the plaza. The main attraction of the Plaza de Panama were the hundreds of tame pigeons, which could be hand-fed with bird-seed sold by Spanish-garbed vendors; and visitors could also pose for postcard photographs, seated in a Electriquette, surrounded by pigeons. 
The woven-wicker Electriquettes were battery-powered electric vehicles, which could be rented by the hour, enabling visitors to ride in comfort around the exposition grounds. Also wandering the plaza were various entertainers and minstrels. The Exposition Band gave daily performances on the steps of the Sacramento Valley Counties Building, 
and a large colorfully-dressed group of Spanish troubadours performed throughout the plaza with song and dance. Colorful canvas hangings were placed on the balconies surrounding the plaza; and a decorative blue & yellow striped canvas awning was occasionally raised over the steps of the Sacramento Valley Counties Building for special performances. 
The famous Liberty Bell was also displayed for three days in the Plaza de Panama, during November of 1915, on its return trip to Philadelphia from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.
Located on the north side of El Prado, immediately east of the California State Building, was the Panama-California Exposition's Science and Education Building. Designed with a mixture of Spanish Renaissance, Moorish, and Churrigueresque architecture, the building's main facade faced El Prado and featured two tile-roofed bays extending over the arcade. 
Each bay was of a Spanish Renaissance design, with an ornamented cornice, and contained three decoratively-framed Italian Renaissance windows. Between these bays was located the heavily-ornamented main entrance to the building, formed by an accentuated archway of the arcade, and topped by a small pavilion with a terra-cotta tile roof. Beyond this entrance, behind the arcade, was situated a lushly landscaped patio, containing a lawn and an abundance of tropical plants and trees, as well as two small faun-head fountains of classic Roman design. 
At the south-east corner of the patio was placed an octagonal Moorish stair-tower, surmounted by a black and yellow tiled turret. A second landscaped patio occupied an area at the corner of the Plaza de Panama and El Prado, and featured an additional faun-head fountain, and a small ornate balcony set high upon the wall. The building's ornate east entrance was designed in a Churrigueresque style, and based on the Iglesia de San Francisco in Puebla, Mexico. Within the building were located numerous scientific and educational exhibits, many of which were provided by the Smithsonian Institution.
The Botanical Gardens occupied a large rectangular area in front of the Panama-California Exposition's Botanical Building; and were enclosed by the Home Economy & Sacramento Valley Counties Buildings on the west, and the Varied Industries & Food Products Buildings on the east. Extending north from El Prado were two main walkways giving access to the Botanical Gardens, between which was located a large rectangular lagoon, known as La Laguna de las Flores, measuring 193-feet long by 43-feet wide. 
At the head of the lagoon was a balustraded bridge, crossed by a transverse walk. At the west end of this walkway was situated a Roman-style pergola, fronted by a tiled terrace with a low iron railing; while at the walkway's east terminus was located a balustraded terrace, backed by a tile-roofed arcade connected to the Food Products Building. Also located near each end of the transverse walkway were raised circular basins, each containing an ornately designed Baroque fountainhead. 
The Botanical Gardens were surrounded by a thick growth of eucalyptus trees, and planted with spacious lawns, shrubbery, palms, and many flowering plants. A low hedge of blue lobelia framed La Laguna de las Flores, and the bordering walkways were lined with Italian-style benches and ornate bronze-green light standards. The view south across the lagoon, toward El Prado, revealed a mirrored reflection of a tile-roofed colonnade and the neighboring towers of the Commerce and Industries & Foreign and Domestic Arts Buildings.
