On Friday, May 18, 1904, 383 St. Louis orphans between 8 and 11 years old were guests of honor at the opening of the Belgian Pavilion. After visiting the exhibits, the girls were treated to lunch at the Administration restaurant.
The Belgian building was a steel structure constructed in Antwerp, Belgium and shipped to the United States for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Paintings representing the cities and provinces of Belgium decorated the outside walls.
