Columbian Exposition Of 1893: And Was Jerusalem Builded Here

The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago is immortalized in the technological and cultural history of the modern world. Amongst the notable firsts at the Exposition included Milton Hershey’s chocolate making device, Aunt Jemima pancake mix, the Ferries Wheel, the electrical kitchen, and the fluorescent light bulb, to name a few. Not surprisingly, many of these firsts soon became household stables not only within the United States, but also within the larger international community. It was at the Exposition that the United Sates demonstrated not only its ability to successfully execute a grand international spectacle, but also ushered in an age of American political and social domination. However, the latter analysis of the Exposition
At the Exposition, Native Americans served a dual purpose, albeit a contradicting one. While they were showcased as objects of civility and Christianity, Native Americans were also portrayed in the exact opposite manner of civility and Christianity: barbarity and savagery. Rydell’s argument, while effective, loses some of the nuance of the reactions by government agents regarding the deliberate contradiction of the Native American presence at the Exposition. Some government agents, particularly those connected to military affairs, appear to have reacted indifferently towards the apparent contradiction and in fact seemed more concerned with menial issues than the stalling of Native American “progression.” Yet, other government agents, particularly those more invested in the advancement and assimilation of Native Americans, expressed similar concerns to those suggested by