Chicago's 1893 World's Fair

by Joseph M. Di Cola, David Stone

Overview

Step into the future of the past in Chicago's 1893 World's Fair!

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. Chicago beat out New York City, St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, DC, in its bid as host - a coup for the Windy City. The site finally selected for the fair was Jackson Park, a marshy area covered with dense, wild vegetation. Daniel H. Burnham and John W. Root were selected as chief architects, creating the famous White City. The fair featured several different thematic areas: the Great Buildings, Foreign Buildings, State Buildings, and the Midway Plaisance, a nearly mile-long area that featured exotic exhibits. The exposition also showcased the world's first Ferris Wheel and introduced fairgoers to new sensations like Cracker Jack, Pabst Beer, and ragtime music. Unfortunately, by 1896, most of the fair's buildings had been removed or destroyed, but this collection takes readers on a tour of the grounds as they looked in 1893.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738594415
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	10/08/2012
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	493,549
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Authors Joseph M. Di Cola and David Stone, both native Chicagoans, share a lifelong interest in the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and a wish to share its story through images with readers.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Introduction 7

1 The Development of the Site 11

2 The Great Buildings 17

3 Other Significant Buildings, Sites, and Exhibits 39

4 Foreign Sites and Buildings 55

5 State Sites and Buildings 65

6 Midway Plaisance 83

7 Works of Art at the Exposition 101

8 Aftermath, Impact, Relics, and Legacy 107

Bibliography 127