Fresno State Library
"Tower of Jewels" Display
Check out the display on the Tower of Jewels and Novagems from the 1915 San Francisco Panama-Pacific International Exposition in the foyer of the Special Collections Research Center on the Fourth-Floor, South Wing. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the exposition. In celebration, Don Larson and noted Tower of Jewels and Novagem expert, Jay Stevens, put together a unique exhibit with a handmade backdrop created especially for the case by Stevens.
“The Tower of Jewels was the 435-foot tall centerpiece building … it was liberally decorated with 102,000 Novagems—faceted cut glass "jewels" that hung over the building’s surface … the Novagems were mounted on brass hangers with small mirrors behind them … breezes would make them independently sway, causing the building to shimmer … at night an assortment of 54 searchlights hidden around the tower were pointed towards it, creating a spectacular sparkling impression.” — from http://www.sanfranciscomemories.com/ppie/TowerOfJewels.html by Zoe Heimdal