The illumination of the White City evoked awe and wonder among visitors to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. “Nothing earthly can ever exceed this; man has reached high, higher, his fingers have almost touched the bars of heaven,” wrote Mrs. D. C. Taylor in her memoir Halcyon Days in the Dream City. [Read the full work here.] Reprinted below is a description of the fairgrounds at night published in the World’s Columbian Exposition Illustrated.

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The World’s Fair at Night

However grand, complete and astonishing the World’s Fair may appear to the public by daylight, it is at night that it can be seen in all its splendor and magnificence. The visitor has roamed about the grounds and buildings all day. He has seen many curious and wonderful things from all climes and countries. As night comes on he finds himself in the Court of Honor. He is tired and weary. His head and eyes ache from the long day’s sight-seeing He notices seats scattered about the court east of the Administration building, nearly all of which are filled with tired people like himself.

It is six o’clock and the chimes on the Machinery Hall are just sending forth their music. He listens in surprise and delight, as those great bells ring forth some familiar anthem or popular air. The great MacMonnies’ fountain is tossing and shooting streams and sprays of water here and there. He is soon among the admiring crowds around this attraction. Tired nature asserts itself and he determines to sit down and rest his weary limbs. The sun sinks behind the Administration building; twilight hovers for a brief period over the “White City.” Just as the shades of night are settling down he hears strains of music. He has wondered why so many people were sitting there in such expectant attitudes. Now it is explained. They were awaiting the concert just begun by one of the Exposition bands in the beautiful pavilion.

As he sits listening to the charming music, the surroundings and the air seem suddenly lit up as by a great fire. Gazing around him in astonishment he beholds a sight the like of which he never imagined could be possible. The great dome of the Administration building is a blaze of light from thousands of electric lights. The Agricultural building, the Machinery Hall, the Electricity building and all the beautiful columns and balustrades surrounding the water court are covered with lights. The picture entrances him. Suddenly a great white stream of light seems to shoot over the buildings. Looking about him to find the cause he sees the powerful search-light on the Manufactures building, which throws its rays first one place and then another.

Before he has time to recover from his astonishment at these sights and sounds, he hears a chorus of “oh’s” and “ah’s” from the thousands sitting around him. Looking for the cause a sight bursts upon his vision that causes him to rub his eyes to see if he is not dreaming. Shooting up into the air on both sides of the court to a distance of over a hundred feet are streams of what looks like fire. These must be the great electric fountains that he has read so much about. While he gazes at the sight in speechless wonder the streams suddenly assume a greenish tint, then lavender, followed by blue and yellow and orange. He has read the Arabian Nights tales, but this realization is far beyond the dreams of the author of those stories.

While he is still gazing at the fountain displays, he is startled by a sudden report as if a cannon had been fired. The next instant the air over the lake east of the Manufactures building is filled with a shower of fiery rockets, bursting in midair, and sending forth a great mass of vari-colored fire. For the next hour he sits in open-mouthed admiration and wonder at the grand display of fireworks, the beautiful fountains diverting his attention at times, while the soft strains of music are wafted out from the pavilion.

But this is not all. He wanders nearer the fountains. The sheet of water within the court is covered with gondolas, and electric and steam launches. They are lit by fanciful colored lights, and as they glide silently and swiftly around the court, filled with happy, joyous people, visions of a similar scene flashes before him. Where was it? Oh, yes, it was in Venice. Only the scene here is more entrancing than any he ever saw in sunny Italy.

It is growing late, and he decides to return to his hotel. A brilliantly lighted building attracts his attention. He enters. It is the Electricity building. Again he is filled with wonder, admiration and astonishment at the effects produced by this wonderful agent. Passing out at the north end of the building he is soon mingling with a great crowd of people who are wandering among the plants and flowers on Wooded Island. Thousands of tiny lights peep out from among the plants and shrubbery at every point, looking like so many fire-flies. Chinese lanterns, hung in rows and suspended from lines are to be seen in all parts of the Island. Surely this is Elysium itself. He wanders along half dazed by the varied and enchanting sights he has seen and soon finds himself passing from the “White City.”

He is only awakened from his dream by the cries of hackmen, street-vendors, and the clang of the cable train. But he goes away with the thought that, although the great Fair may be interesting and entertaining by daylight, it is at night when it can be seen in all its glory and magnificence.

Gentle reader, such is a brief summary of what you and everyone else, who visits the Fair at night, can see and enjoy on almost any night in the week.

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SOURCE

“The World’s Fair at Night” World’s Columbian Exposition Illustrated Sep. 1893, p. 163.