The editor of the Chicago Record offered this advice for seeing the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, enormous as it was.
Seeing the Fair
Nine out of ten people who find themselves for the first time within the World’s Fair gates are aware of a sensation of hopeless helplessness before the baffling array of buildings and perspectives. The doors of half a hundred interesting-looking palaces stand temptingly open, and the visitor halts before them as Bassanio before Portia’s caskets. Which one leads to what he wants most to see? Where shall he begin, since the beginning must be made?
Everything at the Fair is of value to someone; some things are of value to everyone, and some of value only to certain peculiar tastes and interests. An artist may acquire a little useful knowledge of a general sort from the machinery building, and the mechanic will certainly find something to please him in the fine arts galleries. But, except for purposes of general information, the one or the other will spend his time to the best advantage in the domain that especially interests him.
With this fact in view and a knowledge that the Fair is too big to be studied on any pre-arranged system, the visitor who finds himself puzzled what to do will do best to “let himself go,” as the slang has it, in what direction momentary curiosity or taste beckons. See the things that have awakened your interest through reports and that you particularly want to see. Give yourself an impetus in the general direction of the places that meet your inclinations. After that keep your eyes open and wander indefinitely, allowing yourself to absorb what you peculiarly need or desire.
No set of sight-seeing rules devised by one man will answer the requirements of another in this case. At best you can but get a general idea of most of it, and some of your time must go to the study of the beauties of the architecture and the glory of the Court of Honor.
And you visit the Fair primarily for enjoyment. To enjoy one’s self by rule is sad business at best.
SOURCE
“Seeing the Fair” Chicago Record Jun. 8, 1893, p. 4.