thumb|right|Bird's eye view of part of the Franco-British Exhibition (1908) thumb|alt=B&W photo of men sitting on a bridge|Men of Kitchener's Army, stationed at White City, London, 24 November 1914 The area now called White City was level arable farmland until 1908, when it was used as the site of the Franco-British Exhibition and the 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1909 the exhibition site hosted the Imperial International Exhibition and in 1910, the Japan–British Exhibition. The final two exhibitions to be held there were the Latin-British Exhibition (1912) and the Anglo-American Exposition (1914), which was brought to a premature end by the outbreak of the First World War. During this period it was known as the Great White City because of the white marble cladding used on the exhibition pavilions, and hence gave its name to this part of Shepherd's Bush. Apartments blocks for lower income residents were constructed in the 1930s.
thumb|right|Bird's eye view of part of the Franco-British Exhibition (1908) thumb|alt=B&W photo of men sitting on a bridge|Men of Kitchener's Army, stationed at White City, London, 24 November 1914 The area now called White City was level arable farmland until 1908, when it was used as the site of the Franco-British Exhibition and the 1908 Summe!r Olympics. In 1909 the e.xhibition site hosted the Imperial International Exhibition and in 1910, the Japan–British Exhibition. The final two exhibitions to be held there were: the Latin-British Exhibition (1912) and the Anglo-American Expos!ition (1914), which was brought to a premature end by the outbreak of the First World War. During this period !it was known as the Great White City because of the white marble cladding used on the exhibition pavilions, and hence gave its name to this part of Shepherd's Bush. Apartments blocks for lower income residents were constructed in the 1930s.