The world's columbian exposition
chicago worlds fair
The columbian exposition and Chicago today
The Columbian exposition had a large impact on Chicago society, and helped shape Chicago, not only back then, but also today. It allowed Chicago as well as America to find its identity, on a national level, as well as provide a sense of culture to people everywhere.
Architectual, cultural, and comunity impact.
The Architectural aspect of the fair allowed Chicago to flourish as a city, and to gain a sense of rehabilitation, as a society. The fair brought culture to the city and allowed Chicagoans to build a larger sense of community. The unity that was formed because of the fair has allowed Chicago to be the Amazing city it is today and has brought culture and life to the city up to present day. It is because of the fair and the impact it had on Chicago, that the city is so beautiful and prominent today.
Who attended?
27 million visitors attended the fair through out the five months in which It took place. The fair attracted all types of people including people like Frederick Douglass, and Henry Adams, two very influential people in American history, and the workers of America, including business men and farmers. Anyone who could afford to come to the fair, came to the fair.
What did the visitors see?
The visitors got to see aspects of many different cultures within the fair, as well as the creative side of America while at the fair. Many different exhibits were displayed within the different buildings at the fair. The visitors could see different presentations and demonstrations, of almost anything you could imagine. In the Court of Honor building, visitors could see the Grand Basin, which was a spacious reflecting pool, that included a fountain, and a statue of the Republic. In the Machinery Building, more specifically Machinery Hall, the visitors could see exhibits such as the cotton gin, sewing machines, and the world largest conveyor belt. In the Agricultural Building, the visitors were exposed to exhibits about weather, tobacco and farming, as well as being able to see real animals, machines, and tools. the Manufactures and Liberal Arts building Manufactured goods were displayed. One could see stained glass and typewriters of all sorts as well as the telescope. These few of many building were the foundation of the fair, and allowed people to enjoy the magnificent fair to the greatest degree.
Who organized or created it?
Daniel H Burnham, and Frederick law Olmsted, where the organizers of the fair. They worked on the organization part of the fair, while architects and city planners worked on the construction of the fair.
What were the goals of the fair?
a success
The fair was a success on many levels it helped shape Chicago into a beautiful, unified society, and introduced culture to many, in the most entertaining way possible.
Many people were very pleased with the fair, On man said; "there are some people who are letting the chance of seeing this White City, that rose like a Venus from the waters of Lake Michigan, slip from them forever. They are missing the greatest event in the history of the country since the Civil War.
~Richard Harding Davis
He wasn't the only person happy with the outcome of the fair, Another man said;
" Even people of small means should not recoil from the expense of a journey which in these hard times they may consider an extravagance, and they should not fail to bestow upon other children the boon of enlightenment and ennobling impressions which this grand spectacle conveys, and which in all likelihood this will be the only opportunity in their lives to receive and enjoy."
Both of these quotes were given during the time of the fair.
recent opinions
many people who did not attend the fair still have opinions on it, and its impact on Chicago.
"Can you imagine trying to see that all in one day. Or even a week. You could have spent an entire day inside one of the buildings and not see everything,"
~ Mark Alvey. (2013)
"There were 65,000 exhibits at the World's Columbian Exposition and the number of individual items is almost impossible to count,"
~ Christine Giannoni (2013)
works cited
"Columbian Exposition of 1893 Dazzles New Generations at Field Museum." ABC Owned Television Stations. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2014
Ross, Alexander Milton. John Brown Souvenir of the World's Columbian Exposition (1893), Chicago, U.S. Washington, D.C.?: A.M. Ross?, 1893. Print
The Java Village: Midway Plaisance World's Columbian Exposition. Chicago: S.n., 1893.
the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Philadelphia: P.W. Ziegler &, 1893. Print
"University of Virginia." University of Virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2014.