Chicago Worlds Fair
Dasha Krumrey
Franz Burnier
English 1102
April, 2012
Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition Between the first of May and the end of October, an estimated 27 million people attended Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition (Worlds Columbian Exposition), also known as Chicago World's fair of 1893. This fair was planned to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus voyage and discovery of the New World. However the fair was a year late due to political arguments. The exposition covered 630 acres in Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance., and featuring nearly 200 new buildings (History Files). The inspiration for the World Columbian Exposition was part of the success of the Paris expositions in 1878 and 1888. The rivalry and competition between the two countries made the fair a great success. In 1888, the United States Congress passed a bill to allow for an exposition celebrating Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Americas. Several major cities competed to host the exposition, including New York, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, and Chicago. Even though Chicago wasn’t the most popular city in the U.S, or the most clean, it was a city filled with slaughter houses and the smell from them. Much to everyone's surprise on April 25, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison announced Chicago as the winner for the location of the fair. The city was the most reasonable host because of its central location and abundant park space (1893 World's Columbian Exposition). Forty-six nations participated in the fair (Appelbaum 2). Each nation brought something interesting to the fair such as culture and architecture. The Exposition was an influential event on the American society. The fair made a great impact on architecture, technology, and culture. As an architectural show the Exposition was extraordinarily successful. There were nearly 200 new buildings build just for the fair. Carroll William Westfall, a professor of Architecture at the University of Notre
Franz Burnier
English 1102
April, 2012
Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition Between the first of May and the end of October, an estimated 27 million people attended Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition (Worlds Columbian Exposition), also known as Chicago World's fair of 1893. This fair was planned to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus voyage and discovery of the New World. However the fair was a year late due to political arguments. The exposition covered 630 acres in Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance., and featuring nearly 200 new buildings (History Files). The inspiration for the World Columbian Exposition was part of the success of the Paris expositions in 1878 and 1888. The rivalry and competition between the two countries made the fair a great success. In 1888, the United States Congress passed a bill to allow for an exposition celebrating Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Americas. Several major cities competed to host the exposition, including New York, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, and Chicago. Even though Chicago wasn’t the most popular city in the U.S, or the most clean, it was a city filled with slaughter houses and the smell from them. Much to everyone's surprise on April 25, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison announced Chicago as the winner for the location of the fair. The city was the most reasonable host because of its central location and abundant park space (1893 World's Columbian Exposition). Forty-six nations participated in the fair (Appelbaum 2). Each nation brought something interesting to the fair such as culture and architecture. The Exposition was an influential event on the American society. The fair made a great impact on architecture, technology, and culture. As an architectural show the Exposition was extraordinarily successful. There were nearly 200 new buildings build just for the fair. Carroll William Westfall, a professor of Architecture at the University of Notre