Prior to the end of 1915, plans began circulating for extending the exposition for another year. Most of the board of directors, however, were not able to continue into the new year and resigned. Funding for the 1916 addition came from Los Angeles, local businessman, proceeds from the 1915 expo, leftover funding from the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, and chambers of commerce outside of San Diego.Pourade (1965), p. 199Amero (2013), p. 106Amero (2013), p. 108 On March 18, 1916, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels pushed a button in Washington, D.C. that sounded a gong in the Plaza de Panama to commemorate "Exposition Dedication Day".Amero (2013), p. 117 The fair was rechristened the Panama–California International Exposition. By this point, international exhibitors from the recently closed San Francisco exhibition had arrived in San Diego, and the expo had exhibits from Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, and Switzerland.Amero (2013), p. 114 Some of these exhibitors were unable to return to Europe due to World War I which had been raging since 1914. Additional exhibits included an ice rink, an alligator farm, and performance shows.Amero (2013), p. 116 Some of the original buildings from the prior year were repurposed for new exhibits.
