Changing Exhibits
The Extraordinary Cow Palace
The Extraordinary Cow Palace in the Changing Exhibit Gallery (March 2, 2024 – November 2026) explores the people and events at the Cow Palace that made history.
Shirley Temple Black and her daughter with the Beatles at the Cow Palace, August 1964. Courtesy Cow Palace.
The 1-A District Agricultural Association opened the Cow Palace in 1941. This state agency of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Fairs and Expositions was conceived at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition to house a great animal and livestock show. Over the years, the Grand National has included a Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo.
Starting with Bob Hope, celebrities who visited the Cow Palace autographed the walls of the box office. Who do you recognize?
Themes in the exhibit include: The Grand National, Music Entertainment, Family Entertainment, Competitive Events, Exhibitions, and Conventions.
In honor of the opening of the exhibit The Extraordinary Cow Palace, a panel shared their experiences. Panelists included: Allison Keaney (moderator); John Root; George Yerby; Donna Pini Peralta; Bruce Ede; Ken Flower; Kevin Patterson; and Ted Luff.
On July 20, 2024, Jim Fitzpatrick presented One of the Cow Palace’s Major Attractions…Professional Roller Derby and the Legendary San Francisco Bay Bombers. Fitzpatrick was first a skater and later a coach and general manager of the Bay Bombers.
