The Transportation Building was built by the Ford Company to showcase its 1935 line of cars. The California Pacific International Exposition was held in May - November 1935 and February - September 1936. It was held in Balboa Park, San Diego's large central urban park, which had also been the site of the earlier Panama-California Exposition in 1915. The Exposition was held to promote San Diego and support its economy and had hundreds of exhibits on history, the arts, horticulture, ethnic cultures, science, and industry.