The purpose of this site is to illuminate in some small way, a brief
moment in American history. The Columbian Exposition was America’s coming of
age party, and for a moment in time the Fair arguably held the best of what
America was, - and the dreams of what could be. The Fair helped mold a young
America’s self image and thus affected what we have become.
It should not be forgot.
This site cannot hope to document the richness of experience that was
available from actually visiting the Fair, but hopefully it will in some small
fashion succeed in reflecting some of the wonder and some of the dreams the
Fair generated in its own time.
Most text describing the fair and its elements that are contained in this
site are directly lifted from period publications and insofar as is possible
attributions will be appropriately noted. The written words of those who
actually experienced the Fair is judged best at reflecting the impact the Fair
had, and that the structure of the language then used reflects more accurately
the mind and flavor of the times.
So let it be told in their own words.
Likewise, all images, both line drawings and photographs (with the exceptions
of the photos of items from the author’s personal collection of artifacts) have
also been lifted directly from period literature.
- As such, most of text and images represented at this site have been taken
from original period sources currently in the possession of the author and are
all in excess of one hundred years old, and are thus no longer affected by
copyright. In addition, the author of this site specifically waives any
potential copyright of any materials or text presented within this site which
has been generated by his hand, and in fact encourages the viewer to copy for
any of his own uses any or all materials found here. All materials and text
here-in this site are considered by the author to be within public domain.
So all that said..
The turn of the century was a time of great change.
The full effects of the advent of the industrial revolution, begun almost a
century earlier, were becoming known and nothing would ever be the same.
Suddenly everything seemed possible.
Societies and cultures were being redefined and political and economic power
was being redistributed.
A euphoric young America was finding that in this new world order it had
not only great strength, but perhaps an even greater potential.
America was coming of age and it was time for a coming out party.
It was time for The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1892-93.
Yes, the Columbian Exposition was a World’s Fair, and in fact many
countries were well represented. But The Fair was also a showcase for what
America had become, and perhaps as important, it gave notice to the world of
what she would become.
The 1893 World’s Fair meant something different to each of its
participants,
- and to each of its attendee’s. Marvels and wonders were everywhere.
Some of these may be touched upon here, but it is not the intent of this effort
to review the 1893 World’s Fair in great detail, (-- although the full breadth
and scope of what was presented and seen at The Fair during its brief existence
is certainly worthy of being chronicled in detail on the Internet and perhaps
someday will be,) this poor effort has a humbler goal.
What is hoped for here is that in some fashion that this effort opens up to
some a small window to the past.
A window through which perhaps those who had not known how bright the lights of
that Fair had shone, and had gone unawares till now, may catch a glimpse of
what it must have been like for those attending to have personally witnessed
the beauty, grace, power, and style of The Chicago Columbian Exposition.
-- And perhaps gain a sense of what it must have been like on a day in 1893 to
walk, with pride and awe, down the streets of that place that was known the
world over as both The White City, and The Dreaming City.
Come, the curtains are pulled back a bit.
Peek into the past and witness the dawning of a new age.
Look for yourself what promises the Dreaming City held for America and the
world,
and learn perhaps a little more about who we Americans are.
To the Table Of
Contents or on to Chapter I, - The Beginnings