World’s Columbian Exposition: Putting Chicago on the Map

World’s Columbian Exposition: Putting Chicago on the Map As noted by Robert W. Rydell, the author of World’s Columbian Exposition World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair took place in Chicago from May 1, 1893 through October 30, 1893 (Rydell 1). The fair was designed to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of the New World (1). The fair took place only shortly after the Chicago Fire and demonstrated Chicago’s ability to bounce back after great tragedy. The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 was meant to promote a positive image of Chicago, its diversity and growth, but during this time Chicago became prone to serial killings, violence and other crime. As prior stated, the Chicago World’s Fair took place only 22 years after the Chicago Fire and showed that Chicago was quickly growing industrially as well as population wise (Rydell 1). Chicago was in competition with New York City, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis for housing the fair, which would lead to great prestige for the city (Rydell 1). Congress decided in 1890 that Chicago would be the lucky city to hold the fair, giving Chicago three years for preparations for the extravagant and monumental event (Rydell 1). As Ben C. Truman described in The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 the fair was designed to show the progress made by American’s since Columbus’s arrival (Truman 1). With this fair taking place in Chicago, the city was able to show its progress, especially after the destruction from the Chicago fire. Daniel H. Burnham was put in charge of the exposition and had help from his partner John W. Root to select and achieve beautiful architecture and sculpture to create an artistic and magnificent fair, which would become known as the White City (Rydell 1). Author of Devil in the White City Erik Larson describes Root’s untimely and sudden death in 1891 and how it shocked Chicago as well as caused commotion and gossip (Larson 107-8). Newspapers contained many interviews

Cited: Larson, Erik. The Devil in the White City. Rothley, Leics.: W F Howes, 2003. Print. Rydell, Robert W. "World 's Columbian Exposition." Encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org. The Encyclopedia of Chicago, 2004. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. Rose, Julie K. "World 's Columbian Exposition: Idea, Experience, Aftermath." xroads.virginia.edu. N.p., 1 Aug. 1996. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. Searing, Susan E. "Women in the White City: lessons from the Woman 's Building Library at the Chicago World 's Fair." American Libraries Mar.-Apr. 2012: 44+. Academic OneFile. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. Truman, Ben C. "History Study Center - Home Page." Historystudycenter.com. Helicon, 2007. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. 1. I used The Devil in the White City, because I knew it was reliable. It is both a primary and a secondary source, because it provides factual information, as well as firsthand accounts of the World’s Fair. 2. I used Rydell’s source, because I knew it was also reliable, because it was in an encyclopedia. This was an entirely secondary source, because it gave just facts and no personal accounts 3. Rose’s website was extremely helpful because it combined both primary and secondary sources as well. It gave quotes from individuals at the time, excerpts from magazines as well as just the facts. 4. Searing’s article gave information about the Woman’s Building and it provided me with secondary sources and strictly facts about the fair. 5. I used Truman’s source for mainly background information regarding the fair, thus making it a credible secondary source, because this article used excerpts from a book about the fair.