Architects - Ward and Blohme of San Francisco.
The palace is one of grandeur, dignity and great beauty.
The architecture has been inspired by such old Roman thermae as the
Baths of Caracalla, the Baths of Titus and the like.
The ornamentation is of the Italian Renaissance style, worked out on a
building that in form suits the needs of a great palace of machinery.
The gable points at the top of the western façade are such as one sees
in the restoration of the Baths of Caracalla.
The first and only other expression of this style in America is seen in
the Pennsylvania Station of New York City.
In the Transportation Palace can be seen a model of the proposed plan
for a new Union Depot for Chicago, with a similar gabled effect.
The three arches reflect on the exterior the three aisles of the same
portion of the palace within.
The great columns in front, and also in the vestibule, simulate Siena
marble.
The entablature carried across the faces of the arches supports American
eagles by C. A. Humphries.
Eagles are also seen at the corners of the Corinthian capitals. This
bird of freedom can be found all over the Exposition.
Notice that Mr. Jules Guerin, the great color wizard, leads you by means
of the blue ground of the capitals, the blue between the dentils, the
blue between the consoles to the blue sky above.
The principal lighting is by great clerestory windows - great windows at
the north and the south ends - also by skylights.
The building covers nine acres, and is the largest wooden structure in
the world. It is about three blocks long.
The statues as well as the reliefs are by Haig Patigian of San
Francisco.
Vigorous types like machinery itself are used.
The generation, transmission and application of power as applied to
machinery are most interestingly represented.
The decorated drums of the columns show the Genii of Machinery.
The eyes of these figures are closed, reminding you that power comes
from within.
Notice how from any point of view your figures suggest support at the
sides of the drum.
The very position of the arms gives you a strong feeling of support.
The figures on the spandrels represent the application of power to
machinery.
The figures on the pedestals represent: