Sedalia in Pettis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Home Economics Building

1909

— Architect: Thomas Bast • Contractor: Unknown —

Home Economics Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 21, 2015

1. Home Economics Building Marker

Inscription.
The John Deere Plow Company built this building as a display area for farm implements and wagons. Simpler than other exhibition buildings, the building features large, closely spaced, twelve-light, flat arched windows.

In the 1920s, the Missouri State Fair named the building for W. D. Smith, then Fair secretary. The building was used for dog shows during the 1920s.

In the 1930s, it became the Home Economics Building, and window openings were filled and the open brick foundation was covered with wire mesh.

Erected by Missouri State Fair Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Education • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 38° 41.525′ N, 93° 15.546′ W. Marker is in Sedalia, Missouri, in Pettis County. It can be reached from West 16th Street. Marker and building are on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2503 West 16th Street, Sedalia MO 65301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor.

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It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Merci Boxcar (within shouting distance of this marker); 4-H Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Family Fun Center (about 300 feet away); Commercial Building (about 300 feet away); Varied Industries Building (about 400 feet away); Missouri State Highway System (about 500 feet away); Missouri Highway History (about 500 feet away); Missouri: The Show Bee State (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sedalia.

Also see . . .
1. Missouri State Fairgrounds Historic District. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Submitted on July 5, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

2. Missouri State Fair History.

Home Economics Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 21, 2015

2. Home Economics Building and Marker

Fair website entry (Submitted on July 5, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Home Economics Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 21, 2015

3. Home Economics Building

Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 513 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 5, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.