But chicago stands out for the tremendous breadth of its offerings, including primitive fax machines, new telephones, an electric railway, neon lights, and electric belts claiming to cure any number of ailments. Everyone agrees that the photographic record is the perfect companion as well as a great book on its own. At the time of the worlds columbian exposition of 1893, the united states was fast becoming the worlds leading economy. Chicago public library, harold washington library center, special collections, worlds columbian exposition collection. A photographic record dover architectural appelbaum, stanley on. We aim to explore details of its buildings and lesser known corners of the fairgrounds, to rediscover the countless attractions ranging from the astounding to the. The 1893 worlds fair tour with bars digs into how and why the worlds columbian exposition still captures imaginations more than 125 years later. The newberry had a close relationship to the exposition. Louis, missouri, and washington, dc, in its bid as host a coup for the windy city. Worlds columbian exposition 1893 chicago, first edition. The chicago worlds fair didnt just portray social and economic aspects of america during the 1890s, but it was a reflection of americas global influence as well. Make offer 1893 world s fair ruby flash glass souvenir cup signed mary c. The world s columbian exposition the official shortened name for the world s fair. The video was shot in 2014 at a very nice worlds fair exhibit that ran at chicagos field museum of.
Erik larsons the devil in the white city focused my attention on the 1893 chicago worlds fair the worlds columbian exposition. Chicago fought hard for the right to host the worlds columbian exposition, and worked hard to deserve its award. On one hand, national pride made up the positive side of the social reflection. The 1893 worlds fair welcome columbian exposition enthusiasts. Birds eye view of the worlds columbian exposition, chicago, 1893. The worlds columbian exposition, also known as the chicago worlds fair, was organized in celebration of the 400th anniversary of christopher columbuss landing in america. What came to be known as the world s columbian exposition was planned to commemorate the 400th anniversary of christopher columbus s 1492 landfall in the new world.
The 1893 chicago worlds fair captures imaginations more than any other event in the citys history. The worlds columbian exposition was a worlds fair held in chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of christopher columbus arrival in the new. Arnold, documents construction of the fair and interiors and exteriors of the major buildings. The fair depicted two completely different sides of america at that time. The 1893 worlds columbian exposition was the prototypical worlds fair. When the museum opened in 1894, visitors could once again experience many of the exhibits they had seen at the fair.
More than 27 million visitors entered the grounds now jackson park to marvel at the exhibits and displays housed in some. The story of the womens building at the world s columbian exposition, chicago 1893 by jeanne madeline weimann and anita miller aug 30, 1981 2. The 1893 world columbian exposition in chicago inaugurated an age of great fairs and expositions in the united states whose influence is felt to this day. The fair, registered under the bureau international des expositions bie, celebrated the citys centennial. The devil in the white city tells the true story of the 1893 chicago world s fair and provides a fascinating insight into an america coming of age on the world stage. Columbian exposition, also known as the chicago worlds fair was a worlds fair held in chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of christopher columbus arrival in the new world in 1492. The chicago worlds fair of 1893 bolotin, norman, laing, christine on. Once the fair looked like a reality, publicity writers attempted to trace to its ultimate source the original idea of holding a large exposition to commemorate the fourhundredth anniversary of columbus discovery of america. Since then, i have given the photographic record together with devil in the white city to several people and recommended it to many more. The 1893 worlds fair in chicago chicagos 1893 worlds fair. The 1893 chicago worlds fair via boston public library. An unofficial pictorial companion, in many ways, to erik larsons bestseller the devil in the white city, this photographic record of the 1893 columbian expositionchicago worlds fair shows the development of jackson park near chicago, where the fair was built out of nothing in a very short amount of time, against numerous obstacles. Up to the moment that the chicago worlds fair opened to the public on may 1, 1893, crews scrambled to replant landscaping that had been washed away in a torrential rain storm. Check out some surprising facts about the worlds columbian exposition.
Unlike other chicago worlds fair tours or devil in the white city tours, which likely revolve around facts and trivia, youll dig deeper on this mostly indoor tour. From exploring what remains of the worlds fair in paris, we continue in our worlds. The fair had a profound effect on architecture, the arts, chicagos selfimage, and american industrial optimism. Check out our fair fiction library page to connect with some historical novels, fictional memoirs, and juvenile literature. Originally conceived to commemorate the 400th anniversary of columbuss discovery of america, the worlds columbian exposition of 1893 was one of the largest 633 acres and most influential aggregations of human talent, energy, and industry ever assembled. Puddles drowned the newly sodded lawns and some paint was still wet, but to the eyes of that days fairgoers, it was. Guide to the worlds columbian exposition records 18911930. Chicago, the host city, had grown in less than half a century from a village to the countrys secondlargest metropolis. Up until its closing ceremonies in october 1893 it gave fairgoers the opportunity to observe the latest groundbreaking inventions. It is well for the pilgrim to the worlds fair if he have music in his soul and be moved with concord of sweet sounds.
Unfortunately, by 1896, most of the fairs buildings had been removed or destroyed, but this collection takes readers on a tour of the grounds as they. Holmes perpetrated one of the worst murder sprees in american history, perhaps becoming the first known serial killer in the country. World s columbian exposition handel ticket 1893 cu. The purpose of this page is to display the exposition books that belonged to my great grandmother, who lived in. See more ideas about worlds fair, worlds columbian exposition and chicago. As we head into the holiday season, you might find some time to enjoy a trip to the 1893 worlds fair through some vintage fiction.
Architecture quotes worlds columbian exposition 1893. The centerpiece of the fair, the large water pool, represented the voyage. The palace has since been renovated and now serves as the museum of science and industry but it ultimately looks the same as it did in 1893, except that it is no longer white. The fairgrounds, open from may 1, 1893 until october 30, 1893, were designed by frederick law olmstead and covered more than 630 acres in jackson park and the midway plaisance. The seven surviving structures of the chicago worlds.
From the time the fair closed until 1920, the palace of fine arts building housed the columbian museum of chicago. America hosted the worlds fair of 1893 as a celebration of columbus voyage to the continent four hundred. Studebaker map of worlds columbian fairgrounds, 1893. The worlds columbian exposition, covering 633 acres, opened on may 1, 1893. Antique 1893 columbian exposition metal tagtokenrare. The new york times june 19, 1893 page 5in many respects i think the paris exposition was superior. The museum of science and industry represents the only major building remaining from the world s fair of 1893. Columbian exposition, also known as the chicago world s fair and chicago columbian exposition was a world s fair held in chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of christopher columbus arrival in the new world in 1492. Wonders of the chicago worlds fair 1893 by rv staff writer j. Studebaker map of worlds columbian fairgrounds, 1893 many chicago mapmakers published maps of the grounds, often folding them into guidebooks or producing vestpocket editions. In a fierce competition of worldclass cities including new york, st louis, chicago and washington dc to host the event, president harrison announced on 25 april 1890 that chicago will. This educational, nonprofit website is dedicated the history and legacy the 1893 worlds fair held in chicago. The chicago worlds fair of 1893 dover architectural paperback. For six short months in 1893, jackson park in chicago was home to one of the largest and most spectacular expositions of the 19th century.
This is an original 1894 halftone print of the troops marching past the transportation building on october 21, 1892 dedication day for the 1893 chicago worlds fair. If 26 million visitors counts for anything, it was the 1893 worlds columbian exposition, also known as the chicago worlds fair. All in all, it was a hotel designed for murder, and during the course of the 1893 chicago worlds fair, that design was put into practice. Wonders of the chicago worlds fair 1893 printable 5th. The newberry has a rich collection of materials related to the worlds columbian exposition that was held in chicago from may 1 to october 30, 1893. Worlds columbian exposition materials at the newberry. The 1893 worlds columbian exposition could not escape. The 1893 world columbian exposition in chicago library. The wonderful group of buildings, with their marvelous, beautiful surroundings of land and water, created as if by magic, cannot adequately be described or portrayed by either pen or pencil. Contains ephemera from the 1893 worlds fair in chicago, such as photographs, newspaper clippings, business documentation and visitor memorabilia.
In 1933, the palace building reopened as the museum of science and industry and a new building was built for the field museum of natural history. This visual record of the 1893 worlds columbian exposition, photographed by official fair photographer c. The worlds columbian exposition the official shortened name for the worlds fair. A brief message to the conspiracy theorists who have taken over the comments on this video. Guide to the century of progress international exposition publications 19331934. Chicago had a history of fires, making art collectors and museums wary of sending art to the fair. Like others before it, the 1893 worlds fair was where inventors from around the world could show off countless new gadgets. For six short months in 1893, jackson park in chicago was home to one of the largest and most. The 1893 worlds columbian exposition is one of rays favorite historic topics in chicago history and he recently started a not for profit called friends of the white city contact ray email. The novel depicts the lives of daniel h burnham the chief architect of the fair and his struggle against a seemingly endless number of threats that sought to destroy his vision. Not that even so the fair is a bed of roses, for there is most.
Worlds fairs chicago studies library guides at uchicago. Beautiful pieces of the 1893 worlds fair discovered in. A photographic record made the online search unnecessary. Meant to commemorate the 400th anniversary of christopher columbuss discovery of america, the fair was our countrys chance to show off how far it had come.
The virus of the worlds fair, after a period of incubation in the architectural profession and in the. Visions of empire at americas international expositions, 18761916. Chicago was home to a serial killer during the 1893 world. The site finally selected for the fair was jackson park, originally designed by frederick. The 1893 world s fair welcome columbian exposition enthusiasts. A century of progress international exposition, also known as the chicago worlds fair, was a worlds fair held in the city of chicago, illinois, united states from 1933 to 1934. Near the close of the fair, the field columbian museum now the field museum was founded. An interesting combination of analysis of the exposition and the participation of coloradans who shared the excitement of an exposition celebrating the accomplishments of america. Books 1893 worlds columbian exposition libguides at field. It certainly was in the showing of products not american. Holmes and witnessed a political assassination mayor carter harrison, sr. On the chicago worlds fair tour your private group will consider how and why this is so intriguing. Appelbaum, stanley the chicago worlds fair of 1893.
Make offer 1893 worlds fair ruby flash glass souvenir cup signed mary c. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account. The theme of the fair was technological innovation, and its motto was science finds, industry. Worlds columbian exposition encyclopedia of chicago.