The Hyde Park Historical Society will host their monthly Open House on Saturday March, 17, 2023, with a theme of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition.
Visitors are invited to stop by the headquarters at 5529 S. Lake Park Avenue to learn more about the 1893 World’s Fair that took place in nearby Jackson Park. On display will be books, posters, and coloring book pages. You can also test your knowledge of World’s Fair Trivia (and possibly win a prize!) and sample some snacks that fairgoers enjoyed while visiting the Fair.
Question ~ Where did visitors to the exposition stay while visiting. What accommodations were made to host people coming in from other countries ?
Visitors to Chicago had many choices for housing. Many hotels were available in the city (around 100 downtown alone!) and many were built especially for the Fair in the neighborhoods around Jackson Park. Hotels were “located in every conceivable quarter of the city itself or in close proximity to the World’s Fair grounds,” wrote one guide book. Some estimateda 200,000 guest capacity. Many private homes also would rent furnished room. Buide books and housing service companies (such as the World’s Fair Hotel and Boarding Bureau) would help visitors find and book rooms.