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Apr. 7, 2022: “The Archaeology of Garbage and Consumerism During Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair” (Winnetka, IL)

Thursday, April 7, 2022, the Winnetka-Northfield Library District will host author and archaeologist Rebecca Graff, speaking on "The Archaeology of Garbage and Consumerism During Chicago's 1893 World's Fair." Prof. Graff will present research from archaeological sites associated with the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The event runs from 7-8 PM in the Winnetka Library (768 Oak Street in Winnetka, IL) and is free and open to the public. Registration is required and capacity is limited. The Ohio Building. [Image [...]

By |2024-01-07T08:46:57-06:00March 18th, 2022|Categories: EVENTS (past)|0 Comments

When Ward McAllister Sauced Chicago, Part 5

Dessert: Chilled Relations Continued from Part 4. “I have never called Chicago a pork-packing town.” —Ward McAllister As Opening Day of the 1893 World’s Fair approached, Chicago busied herself with final preparations for hosting millions of guests from around the world. The Exposition would be the biggest party ever thrown, and the names of many dignitaries populated the guest list. Royalty rolled down the Midway Plaisance when the Princess Eulalia, Infanta of Spain, visited the 1893 World’s Fair [...]

By |2022-03-17T20:14:18-05:00March 18th, 2022|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: , , , |1 Comment

Seizing Russian Assets at the 1893 World’s Fair

Arriving unannounced and dressed in civilian clothing, United States government officials attempted to seize Russian assets in Chicago. In retaliation of the invasion, the Russians abruptly withdrew from a major international alliance. The year was 1893. The World’s Columbian Exposition was a trade show on a colossal scale. Foreign countries and businesses sent to the World's Fair in Chicago an enormous quantity of goods to display in the great halls of the White City. Though ostensibly exhibits, many of [...]

By |2022-03-12T07:08:10-06:00March 12th, 2022|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: , , |1 Comment

In a Pickle on Jeopardy

Writers for Jeopardy have been digging into the history of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition for answers to questions in recent weeks. Amy Schneider's incredible winning streak came to end soon after missing a Final Jeopardy question about the Field Columbian Museum on the January 24, 2022, episode. During the episode airing on Friday, February 4, 2022 (Show #8570), the "Dance Party" category held the answer "At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the 'Street in Cairo' exhibit helped introduce [...]

By |2023-10-05T09:09:28-05:00March 5th, 2022|Categories: NEWS, VIDEO|Tags: , , |2 Comments

When Ward McAllister Sauced Chicago, Part 4

Third Course: The Head Butler Serves Another Helping Continued from Part 3. “Mr. McAllister, with ill-concealed triumph, proceeds this week to rub salt into the wounds so freshly made.” —The New York World, April 16, 1893 His thick sauce decidedly unappetizing for Chicago’s taste, Ward McAllister surveyed the indigestion caused by his arrogant advice column targeted at the city about to host the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Nathan Lane portrays Ward McAllister in HBO’s period drama The Gilded [...]

By |2022-03-18T08:50:17-05:00March 4th, 2022|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: , |1 Comment

Apr. 4, 2022: “Chicago Exposition 1893” at Lewiston Auburn Senior College (ME)

What do Milton Hershey, L. Frank Baum, Frank Lloyd Wright, Frederick Law Olmsted, Thomas Edison, Nicola Tesla and a host of other have in common? They were all part of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the topic of a lecture "Chicago Exposition 1893" by Alan Elze offered at Lewiston Auburn Senior College in Lewiston, Maine, on April 4, 2022. The event will be held Lewiston-Auburn Senior College (51 Westminster Street in Lewiston) and is free. [...]

By |2022-04-07T13:07:20-05:00February 26th, 2022|Categories: EVENTS (past)|0 Comments

When Ward McAllister Sauced Chicago, Part 3

Second Course: Chicago Bites Back Continued from Part 2. “The World’s Fair cannot help but open the eyes of our Western Natives to our superiority.” —Ward McAllister Would Chicago frappé its wine too much? Certainly not with the rising temperatures caused by Ward McAllister’s sanctimonious sermon on proper entertaining during the 1893 World’s Fair. Chicago newspapers launched a vigorous counterattack in the days following the publication of McAllister’s interview in the New York World on April 9, 1893. [...]

By |2022-03-04T07:14:16-06:00February 25th, 2022|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: , , , , , |1 Comment

When Ward McAllister Sauced Chicago, Part 2

First Course: The Frappé Fracas Continued from Part 1. “A new and amusing feature of life in this Republic is the war between Chicago and Mr. Ward McAllister.” —New York World, April 16, 1893 Ward McAllister, arbiter of New York Society. [Image from Society As I Have Found It (Cassell & Co., 1890).] The first champagne cork flew across Chicago Society’s nose on April 9, 1893, in the pages of the New York World. Ward McAllister set out [...]

By |2022-02-25T16:00:16-06:00February 18th, 2022|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: , , , |3 Comments

When Ward McAllister Sauced Chicago, Part 1

Appetizer: New York’s social dictator “The real Chicago, which works and hustles and brags about the Fair, cares nothing about McAllister or what he says.” —The New York World, April 16, 1893 He has been called “New York society’s panjandrum of lavish entertaining,” “a greater official than the mayor, a custodian of the ultra-fashionables,” a “flamboyant and outspoken figure,” the “foremost consultant in pleasure” and a “master of punctilio and snobbery.” Others named him “the Autocrat of Gotham’s 400,” [...]

By |2022-03-02T15:00:43-06:00February 18th, 2022|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: , , |1 Comment

When Miss Inquisitive Poked Hercules at the 1893 World’s Fair

For six months in 1893, much of the world’s greatest artworks were on exhibit in the Art Place at the World’s Fair in Chicago. Not everyone in town knew how to behave themselves around it. The Palace of Fine Arts by Childe Hassam. Within weeks of the opening of the Columbian Exposition, one oil painting was nearly damaged by an overly enthusiastic visitor to the galleries. Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestes was one [...]

By |2023-04-09T09:01:06-05:00January 25th, 2022|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: |0 Comments
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