- City:
- Monterey, CA
- Site Type:
- Parks and Recreation, Fairgrounds
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Started:
- 1939
- Completed:
- 1940
- Quality of Information:
- Good
- Marked:
- Yes
- Site Survival:
- Partially Extant
Description
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed the Monterey County Fairgrounds in 1939-40, building exhibit halls, barns, a racetrack and more. There is a WPA plaque on the grounds. (Note: in the second phase of the WPA’s life, it was called the Works Projects Administration and was placed under the new Federal Works Administration)
“Covering 22 acres, the Monterey county fairgrounds is the site of the annual county fair, as well as other events large and small which [take place] throughout the year. There are two arenas, livestock barns, and several exhibit halls. Probably only a handful of the millions of people who enter the fairgrounds realize they were a WPA project. In the decades since 1941, the bathrooms have been replaced and the horse racetrack has been converted to simulcast, but much remains of the original work.” (Waymarking.com)
Exactly which of the present structures were built by the WPA is uncertain without more information.
Source notes
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4VHC_Monterey_County_Fairgrounds_Monterey_California
Site originally submitted by Shaina Potts on September 24, 2010.
Additional contributions by Richard Walker.
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