SEMO District Fair has had three locations

Shortly after the U.S. Agriculture Society was formed in New York, Southeast Missouri joined other areas around the country in forming a district fair to promote agriculture.

The Missouri Legislature passed an act creating the Southeast District Agricultural Society in 1855 and set aside $3,000 for the fair project.

Some accounts say that the first fair was held on South Frederick Street in a wooded area. Others claim it took place near South Pacific and Good Hope streets. A fair was held until 1860 when the country began gearing up for the Civil War.

Although the first few fairs were considered successful, it was a few years after the end of the Civil War before the Missouri Legislature revived the Agricultural Society and appropriated money for another fair. The first fairground had been destroyed during the Civil War.

The fair board bought a 50-acre tract in 1870, and in 1871 expanded it by an additional 100 acres. The area was flat and suitable for a fair, but the location at what is now Highway 61 and Gordonville Road was inaccessible to most people. Only those who had hacks or could hire buggies could get to the fair, which had turned into a sheep show and horse racing event.

By 1897, the fair association was bankrupt and it sold the ground to the Blattners who converted it to a farm.

A new fair association formed in 1900, this time in conjunction with the city park association. Stock was sold to finance the purchase of a 40-acre tract that was more accessible to pedestrians and streetcars and as such more popular with visitors. By this time, horse racing had become popular and the fair association built one with a pond in the center. It also built a grandstand, a pavilion and a campsite. Despite its popularity, the fair association went into debt and lost $4,000.

In 1914 the fair association sold its interest in the fairgrounds to the city of Cape Girardeau, and the land became known as Capaha Park. Although the fair board needed to find another location, it continued to hold the fairs in Capaha Park until 1929. The only thing left from the fair association at Capaha Park is the pond.

The fair was inactive again for 10 years during the years of the Great Depression. In 1939, a new fair association was formed. The fair board, City Park Board of Cape Girardeau and the Cape Girardeau County Court got together and bought 94 acres at what is now known as Arena Park where the fair is currently held.