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May 5th, 1938 - The Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
For More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/may-5/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I’m your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we journey back to the spring of 1938, when Glasgow welcomed the world to one of the most ambitious peacetime spectacles ever staged on Scottish soil—the opening of the Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park. And if you’re curious about other fascinating events that happened on this day in history, be sure to check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
It was May 5th, 1938, and all eyes were on Glasgow. With great pomp and ceremony, King George VI officially opened the Empire Exhibition in a city transformed. Covering over 175 acres of Bellahouston Park, the exhibition was a dazzling celebration of British industrial power, imperial unity, and technological progress. At a time when Europe teetered on the brink of war, this was to be a show of strength, confidence, and modernity—a declaration that the British Empire, and Scotland within it, still stood tall.
The idea for the exhibition was born during the economic depression of the early 1930s. Scotland, like much of the industrial world, was struggling. Unemployment was high, shipyards were silent, and confidence had waned. Civic leaders, led by Sir James Lithgow—a prominent industrialist and chairman of the exhibition—believed that a world-class event could revive morale and show Scotland’s enduring importance to Britain and the wider empire. It was, in every sense, a bold act of faith in the future.
Construction began in 1937, and by the time the gates opened a year later, the transformation was complete. More than a hundred buildings had sprung up, showcasing modernist architecture at its most ambitious. The centerpiece was the Tait Tower, an elegant 470-foot spire of concrete and steel, designed by Thomas S. Tait, which soared above the city skyline. Though it was later dismantled, for a few months it stood as a symbol of optimism and architectural daring.
Each of the empire’s dominions and colonies was represented with its own pavilion. From Canada to Ceylon, from Australia to South Africa, the exhibition offered a curated vision of the vastness and diversity of British rule. There were industrial halls brimming with the latest innovations in shipbuilding, engineering, textiles, and aviation. Scottish firms, including giants like John Brown & Company and William Beardmore, proudly displayed their achievements, reminding visitors of Scotland’s central role in powering the empire.
And it wasn’t all business. The exhibition also dazzled with entertainment. The amusement park featured roller coasters, dancing fountains, and an illuminated lagoon. Crowds flocked to performances, concerts, and film screenings. Art lovers admired exhibitions from the Royal Scottish Academy, while children were entranced by puppet shows and model trains. It was a place of wonder—a temporary world where the future felt within reach.
Over the course of the exhibition’s six-month run, more than 12 million people passed through its gates. Special trains brought visitors from all corners of Britain, and the event became a national talking point. It was the largest ever held in Scotland, and one of the most successful international exhibitions of the 20th century.
But behind the optimism lurked unease. In 1938, Adolf Hitler had just annexed Austria. The Munich Agreement, appeasing Germany's expansion, loomed in the autumn. The storm clouds of war were gathering fast. For many, the Empire Exhibition now feels like the last golden summer before the darkness of World War II. A moment frozen in time, when architecture soared, hopes were high, and people believed in progress.
And yet, its legacy endures. Though most of the structures were dismantled after the exhibition closed in October, the Palace of Art still stands in Bellahouston Park, and the event remains etched in Glasgow’s collective memory. It was a proud moment—Scotland at the heart of empire, welcoming the world, confident in its place and purpose.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey to the Empire Exhibition of 1938—a time of grandeur, vision, and the bold belief in better days to come. Don’t forget to check out my blog for more historical stories at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Tune in tomorrow for another fascinating glimpse into Scotland’s remarkable past. I’m Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com
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By Bagtown ClansFor More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/may-5/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I’m your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we journey back to the spring of 1938, when Glasgow welcomed the world to one of the most ambitious peacetime spectacles ever staged on Scottish soil—the opening of the Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park. And if you’re curious about other fascinating events that happened on this day in history, be sure to check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
It was May 5th, 1938, and all eyes were on Glasgow. With great pomp and ceremony, King George VI officially opened the Empire Exhibition in a city transformed. Covering over 175 acres of Bellahouston Park, the exhibition was a dazzling celebration of British industrial power, imperial unity, and technological progress. At a time when Europe teetered on the brink of war, this was to be a show of strength, confidence, and modernity—a declaration that the British Empire, and Scotland within it, still stood tall.
The idea for the exhibition was born during the economic depression of the early 1930s. Scotland, like much of the industrial world, was struggling. Unemployment was high, shipyards were silent, and confidence had waned. Civic leaders, led by Sir James Lithgow—a prominent industrialist and chairman of the exhibition—believed that a world-class event could revive morale and show Scotland’s enduring importance to Britain and the wider empire. It was, in every sense, a bold act of faith in the future.
Construction began in 1937, and by the time the gates opened a year later, the transformation was complete. More than a hundred buildings had sprung up, showcasing modernist architecture at its most ambitious. The centerpiece was the Tait Tower, an elegant 470-foot spire of concrete and steel, designed by Thomas S. Tait, which soared above the city skyline. Though it was later dismantled, for a few months it stood as a symbol of optimism and architectural daring.
Each of the empire’s dominions and colonies was represented with its own pavilion. From Canada to Ceylon, from Australia to South Africa, the exhibition offered a curated vision of the vastness and diversity of British rule. There were industrial halls brimming with the latest innovations in shipbuilding, engineering, textiles, and aviation. Scottish firms, including giants like John Brown & Company and William Beardmore, proudly displayed their achievements, reminding visitors of Scotland’s central role in powering the empire.
And it wasn’t all business. The exhibition also dazzled with entertainment. The amusement park featured roller coasters, dancing fountains, and an illuminated lagoon. Crowds flocked to performances, concerts, and film screenings. Art lovers admired exhibitions from the Royal Scottish Academy, while children were entranced by puppet shows and model trains. It was a place of wonder—a temporary world where the future felt within reach.
Over the course of the exhibition’s six-month run, more than 12 million people passed through its gates. Special trains brought visitors from all corners of Britain, and the event became a national talking point. It was the largest ever held in Scotland, and one of the most successful international exhibitions of the 20th century.
But behind the optimism lurked unease. In 1938, Adolf Hitler had just annexed Austria. The Munich Agreement, appeasing Germany's expansion, loomed in the autumn. The storm clouds of war were gathering fast. For many, the Empire Exhibition now feels like the last golden summer before the darkness of World War II. A moment frozen in time, when architecture soared, hopes were high, and people believed in progress.
And yet, its legacy endures. Though most of the structures were dismantled after the exhibition closed in October, the Palace of Art still stands in Bellahouston Park, and the event remains etched in Glasgow’s collective memory. It was a proud moment—Scotland at the heart of empire, welcoming the world, confident in its place and purpose.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey to the Empire Exhibition of 1938—a time of grandeur, vision, and the bold belief in better days to come. Don’t forget to check out my blog for more historical stories at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Tune in tomorrow for another fascinating glimpse into Scotland’s remarkable past. I’m Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com