This brilliant architect and designer, John Wellborn Root

January 15, 2021, marks the 130th anniversary of the death of architect John Wellborn Root in 1891 at the age of 41. As Consulting Architect to the 1893 World’s Fair with his partner Daniel Burnham, Root’s invaluable contributions are recorded by Harriet Monroe in her chapter “The World’s Columbian Exposition” in John Wellborn Root: A Study of His Life and Work (Houghton, Mifflin & Company, 1896), reprinted here. On January 20, 1891, the Committee on Grounds and Buildings of [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:17:11-05:00January 15th, 2021|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: |0 Comments
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110. Picturesque World’s Fair – Javanese Sweethearts

JAVANESE SWEETHEARTS.—The flavor of soft sentiment and romance almost civilized which pertained to the village of the gentle Javanese crystallized in one instance very prettily. Never, probably, did two Javanese before make so long a bridal tour as a couple who were at the Fair, for it extended from Chicago to their home in Java. Had they but fallen in love and wedded a little earlier they might have made the journey twice as long, including the round trip. [...]

By |2021-01-11T08:14:44-06:00January 11th, 2021|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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December 24, 1890: An Invitation to all the Nations of the Earth to Exhibit at the World’s Columbian Exposition

One hundred and thirty years ago today, the President of the United States extended an invitation to the nations of the world to come together for a World’s Fair in Chicago. President Benjamin Harrison. [Image from Campbell, James B. Campbell's Illustrated History of the World's Columbian Exposition, Volume I. M. Juul & Co., 1894.] December 24, 1890 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation WHEREAS satisfactory proof has been presented to me that [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:17:26-05:00December 24th, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: |1 Comment
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109. Picturesque World’s Fair – Athletic Pastimes in A Street In Cairo

ATHLETIC PASTIMES IN A STREET IN CAIRO.— They were unquestionably a merry lot who made up the resident population of a Street in Cairo, so full of animal spirits as to often engage in their pastimes, even when there were no visitors in attendance. Naturally, among such people, with such lives as theirs had been, physical prowess was held in high esteem, and the hero of a combat with lance or scimiter was in their eyes a greater man [...]

By |2020-12-06T08:39:19-06:00December 6th, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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“Halcyon Days in the Dream City’’ Part 17: “Vale”

Halcyon Days in the Dream City by Mrs. D. C. Taylor Continued from Part 16 The sun has set for the last time on the World's Fair of ’93; for the last time his dying smile has lighted up the fairy courts, the gleaming splendor of statue and portal. Slowly as he sinks to rest, so slowly, solemnly, sinks the forest of fluttering flags and banners; each tall staff soon reaches up in the gathering night bare and stark. [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:18:16-05:00November 30th, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|0 Comments
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“Halcyon Days in the Dream City’’ Part 16: The Transportation Building

Halcyon Days in the Dream City by Mrs. D. C. Taylor Continued from Part 15 Let us go through the “Golden Gate,” not the gate of the Holy City, but a gate the architect of which must have been dreaming of wondrous Bible imagery, when he designed it.[1] Arch beyond arch, receding, diminishing as they recede, till the last one is about the dimensions of some grand cathedral door, while the noble proportions of the first, are almost awe [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:18:24-05:00November 29th, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , |2 Comments
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“Halcyon Days in the Dream City’’ Part 15: The Palace of Art

Halcyon Days in the Dream City by Mrs. D. C. Taylor Continued from Part 14 What is "Art?" Perhaps we are not qualified to say, but to us, “It” is “Truth.” Not merely truth of detail in drawing; though that is necessary to a finished picture, not merely truth of coloring; though that also, must be had, but truth in its highest sense. When a man stands near to the great heart of all, when he sees the meaning [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:19:43-05:00November 27th, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: |2 Comments
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“Halcyon Days in the Dream City’’ Part 14: A Dream

Halcyon Days in the Dream City by Mrs. D. C. Taylor Continued from Part 13 We dreamed that we sat upon the sands of the lake shore, and that all about us, unnumbered as these sands, sat and stood a great multitude; thousands upon thousands of people, men, women, and children, from the babe in arms to the maiden and stripling, high and low, rich and poor, all crowding together, all were equal, and over all a great hush [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:21:11-05:00November 25th, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , |1 Comment
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“Halcyon Days in the Dream City’’ Part 13: The Illumination

Halcyon Days in the Dream City by Mrs. D. C. Taylor Continued from Part 12 To-day we went to the "Dream City," as Mrs. Candace Wheeler so prettily named the Chicago Exposition,[1] and saw the grand weekly illumination in the evening. At about five o'clock in the afternoon we pressed on with the crowd toward the grand basin. It seemed to be the objective point with all and we were so fortunate as to secure a seat on one [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:21:21-05:00November 23rd, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: |2 Comments
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“Halcyon Days in the Dream City’’ Part 12: The Infanta

Halcyon Days in the Dream City by Mrs. D. C. Taylor Continued from Part 11 The Infanta of Spain was entertained by the World's Fair officials to-day, June 8, 1893, and we were fortunate in viewing the pageant from a good stand point.[1] It was a perfect day, cool and bright, and smiled on unclouded to its close. We secured some of the handy little camp chairs that are rented on the ground, and entering the south door of [...]

By |2021-04-02T11:21:26-05:00November 21st, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: |1 Comment
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