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Troops at the Exposition were sent to flooded areas to protect people and property. In mid-January excessive rainfall caused tremendous damage. The war in Europe was becoming increasingly destructive, bandits were harassing Americans along the southern border and in Mexico, domestic travel was declining, commercial travel through the Panama Canal was not as great as had been expected, the beach communities and Tijuana had developed attractions appealing to visitors, and downtown merchants had begun to complain about Exposition competition. San Diego’s expectations for 1916 were high. A few of the California county, state and commercial buildings stayed open, but the main buildings were closed for remodeling. President Davidson outlined the Exposition’s expanded role: “The eyes of the world are focused on the Sun City and the honor not only of the great state of California, but of the great West are placed in our keeping.” The schedule in January and February consisted of band and organ concerts in the afternoon and occasional guard mounts in the Plaza de Panama, and drills at the Marine camp. San Diego’s Exposition was now “international,” which meant it was everything the 1915 publicity department said it wasn’t. In the afternoon, over 15,000 people heard Madame Ernestine Schumann-Heink and Madame Ellen Beach Yaw sing at the Organ Pavilion.

At noon Davidson gave a luncheon for officers of the army and navy at the Cristobal Cafe. Government Building, which had been in 1915 the Sacramento Valley Building. Aubrey Davidson, Exposition officials, and army and navy officers reviewed the parade from the steps of the U.S. Opening day ceremonies for the Panama-California International Exposition, January 1, 1916, began in the morning with a military parade from the foot of Broadway to the Plaza de Panama. President G. CHAPTER SIX: 1916 – The Exposition Goes International