Description of the Guatemalan Building from the Book of the Fair Guidebook:
First among the headquarters of the Latin-American nations may be mentioned Guatemala’s building, near the verge of the north lagoon and southeast of the Art palace. The exterior is of Moorish architecture, with interior plan of home design, and with excellent arrangement for their intended purposes of the roomy and well lighted halls. The structure is of wood and staff, its sides adorned with pictures of tropical plants, of which living specimens are freely displayed in the grounds adjacent, including the finest collection of orchids in Jackson park. In front is a comfortably furnished sitting-room, its walls and columns draped with the national colors. In the centre is an open court, with galleries supported by colonnades, as is the fashion in Spanish-American countries. A terrace extends to the edge of the lagoon, where a landing faces the principal entrance, and for the further accommodation of visitors there is a rustic pavilion partially surrounded with agave and coffee plants, where by waiters attired in the picturesque costumes of the country is served a beverage that rivals the extract of the Mocha or Java berry.
In common with other Central and South American countries, the exhibits of Guatemala are contained almost entirely within its government building. In the eastern wing a spacious hall is stored with manufactures, relics, and works of art; and here perhaps is the most interesting feature of the display; for while Guatemala is not a manufacturing country, she possesses most of the elements and in embryo many of the industries needed for such development, awaiting only the advent of capital and well directed enterprise. Among the articles arranged in show-cases are silk, woollen, and cotton fabrics, embroideries, clothing, mattings, hammocks of hennequen and agave fibre, musical instruments, crockery, and wooden vessels skillfully carved by hand. Of relics there are pre-Columbian and post-Columbian antiquities, the most valuable of which are included in the archaeological collection of Manuel S. Elgueta, while in art there are photographs, statuary, and wax-works, if the last can be said to belong to the domain of art. In the western wing are illustrated the flora and fauna, the agricultural, horticultural, and mineral products of the country, so grouped as to convey a general idea of its resources. Here are maize, wheat, barley, beans, lentils, sesame, and other cereals, leguminous, and herbaceous plants. There are all the fruits of tropic and temperate climes, with spices, frankincense, oils, dyes, fibres both animal and vegetable, herbs both edible and medicinal, rubber, storax, tobacco, and a large assortment of cabinet woods. Coffee, the staple of Guatemala and forming the bulk of her exports, is largely represented; nor should we omit the samples of sugar and of Soconusco cocoa, the latter in demand wherever cocoa is used as a beverage. Of mineral products there is a valuable collection; for while mining receives but little attention, the country is by no means lacking in mineral wealth. Geological specimens are also numerous, and in map form are further illustrated the geological, as well as the topographical and hydrographical features of the republic.