Grover Cleveland’s Big Impression on the Midway

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Stephen Grover Cleveland on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, New Jersey. The second inauguration of Grover Cleveland as the 24th President of the United States was held on March 4, 1893, less than two months before the opening of the World’s Fair in Chicago on May 1. Having previously served as the 22nd president, Cleveland is the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Egyptian Temple Reproduction showing the [...]

By Scott|2018-03-16T17:07:37-05:00March 18th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Lady Aberdeen on Ireland at the 1893 World’s Fair

"Types of the Fair" [Adapted from a drawing in Current Literature June 1893.] Ishbel Maria Hamilton-Gordon, Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair, became viceregal consort of Canada in 1893 when her husband John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon (Lord Aberdeen) was appointed governor general. She was the former viceroy of Ireland and founder of the Irish Industries Association. In her essay about Ireland, published in the July 1893 issue of the North American Review, Lady Aberdeen sets out to describe the contributions of [...]

By Scott|2018-03-16T17:04:12-05:00March 17th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Ceylon Building (p. 40)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 40 - THE CEYLON BUILDING THE CEYLON BUILDING.—Distant Ceylon made an admirable snowing at the Columbian Exposition, its building forming a notable exhibit in itself. The "Court," as it was called, stood just to the north of the German Building, fronting on the lake. The material was of the beautiful native woods of Ceylon, and the pillars, ends of beams and doors were wonderfully carved in imitation of the [...]

By Randy|2018-09-02T17:34:46-05:00March 15th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Music Hall, The Peristyle and the Movable Sidewalk (p. 39)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 39 – MUSIC HALL, THE PERISTYLE AND THE MOVABLE SIDEWALK MUSIC HALL, THE PERISTYLE AND THE MOVABLE SIDEWALK.—First to disappear totally from among the grander features of the Columbian Exposition were the Casino and Music Hall, the famous Peristyle and a portion of the Movable Sidewalk, destroyed by fire on the evening and night of January 8, 1894. The view given above shows all save the Casino, with which [...]

By Randy|2019-04-16T09:53:35-05:00March 12th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Krupp Gun (p. 37)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 37 – THE KRUPP GUN KRUPP GUN EXHIBIT AND LEATHER AND SHOE TRADES BUILDING.—The building in which was the famous Krupp Gun exhibit and that devoted to the Leather and Shoe Trade displays were situated together on the lake front, in the southeastern part of the Exposition grounds, and both appear in the above Illustration. The big gun shown in the Krupp exhibit, the largest in the world, weighs one [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Hunt Ball (p. 36)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 36 – THE HUNT BALL "THE HUNT BALL. "—Among the hundreds of magnificent paintings exhibited in the Art Palace, the work of artists widely renowned in their special fields, certain pictures had always a throng about them from morning until mght. Among these was one, which, from its intrinsic merit, even beyond its size and brilliant coloring, attracted a continuous group of delighted visitors. It was "The Hunt Ball," the [...]

By Randy|2018-03-11T14:35:37-05:00March 3rd, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Fisheries Building (p. 35)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 35 – THE FISHERIES BUILDING THE FISHERIES BUILDING.—Quite unlike any other structure on the grounds, yet so situated and so constructed as to blend with the harmonious whole of the Exposition, the Fisheries Building afforded a striking example of an obstacle overcome by architectural genius. The space allotted to the Fisheries was irregular in form, and in what was considered an unpromising locality, but the novel building erected was as symmetrical [...]

By Randy|2018-03-11T10:09:26-05:00February 26th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , |2 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Massachusetts Building (p. 35)

  PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 35 - THE MASSACHUSETTS BUILDING THE MASSACHUSETTS BUILDING.—Typical of the history and character of the Old Bay State was the Massachusetts Building, which stood just east of New York on the broad roadway leading east from the Fifty-seventh street entrance to the grounds. It was in the old Colonial style and, as nearly as was practicable, a duplicate of the historic John Hancock residence which, until within comparatively recent years, [...]

By Randy|2018-03-11T14:36:09-05:00February 24th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Egyptian Dancing Girls (p. 34)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWSPage 34 – EGYPTIAN DANCING GIRLSEGYPTIAN DANCING GIRLS.—That prominent feature of the Midway Plaisance, a Street in Cairo, had a theatre among its attractions, and what doubtless drew most visitors to this place of entertainment, was the performance of the Egyptian Dancing Girls. The illustration gives excellent portraits of the three dusky beauties who were most prominent there, and shows also the semi-Oriental costume in which they danced. Of the performance it [...]

Site of the World’s Columbian Exposition

The piece below, from the first issue of The World’s Columbian Exposition Illustrated (Vol. 1 No. 1, February 1891) and likely written by editor James B. Campbell, offers an enthusiastic description of the locations that Chicago had recently selected to host the 1893 World’s Fair. The editorial boosterism belies much of the bitter fighting that went into reaching the decision to use Jackson Park as the main fairgrounds. At the time of this publication in early 1891, plans to [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. – Dome of Agriculture Building (p. 33)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 31 – DOME of AGRICULTURE BUILDING DOME OF AGRICULTURE BUILDING.—The agriculture department of the World's Columbian Exposition was housed in a palace, for the great building devoted to the purpose was a magnificent structure, both as to dimensions and architectural character. The main building stood beside Lake Michigan its principal facade facing the grand basin in the Court of Honor, full opportunity being thus afforded for the display of [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Royal Berlin Porcelain Vase (p. 32)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 31 – ROYAL BERLIN PORCELAIN VASE ROYAL BERLIN PORCELAIN VASE.—There were some very beautiful objects in the porcelain display by Germany, in the Manufactures Building, but easily first was the Royal Porcelain Vase, nine feet in height, which is the subject of this illustration. It was part of the showing made by the Royal Berlin Porcelain Works, which are conducted under government patronage, and was one of the largest, [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Interior of “Old Vienna” (p. 31)

Page 31 INTERIOR OF “OLD VIENNA."— From: PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS INTERIOR OF “OLD VIENNA."—To leave the Exposition without having visited the Austrian Village, more widely known as "Old Vienna," was, in the opinion of many people, not to have seen the Fair at all. It was one of the most popular places of resort for the multitude, despite the expensiveness of the luxury, for prices in Old Vienna were "World's Fair prices" indeed. There was [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Interior of the Javanese Theater (p. 30)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 30 INTERIOR OF THE JAVANESE THEATER.—Not a remarkable histrionic production was any play performed in the Javanese Theatre, but it was interesting, as was anything connected with these gentle people. Centrally in the quaint village was a structure, somewhat larger than the others, made of bamboo, thatched in the native style and illuminated at night. From this building emanated the sound of instruments strange to an American ear, deep-toned [...]

By Randy|2019-11-16T19:31:05-06:00February 6th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , , |1 Comment

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 29)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 29 - NORTH LAGOON AND THE MERCHANT TAILORS' BUILDING NORTH LAGOON AND THE MERCHANT TAILORS' BUILDING.—It was hardly to be expected that a building erected by a special class of exhibitors would compare favorably in classic beauty of conception and in all architectural features With anything produced by the great artists of the Exposition, but such was certainly the case. The Merchant Tailors' Building was an architectural gem, inside and [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 28)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 28 THE SWEDISH BUILDING.—The remarkable style of architecture of the Swedish Building made it conspicuous among the group between the north pond and the lake, and it may be added, that the comment thus attracted was most favorable. The building stood on a triangular piece of ground, and to meet this exigency, in preparing the plans a hexagon was inscribed within the triangle and the shape of the structure [...]

By Randy|2018-03-11T14:37:42-05:00February 1st, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 27)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 27 THE WOMAN'S BUILDING.—In no Exposition previous to that of 1893 was there a great building designed by women and devoted especially to a display of women's work. That the Columbian Exposition should have such a structure was a natural outcome of the movement which made a Board of Lady Managers with a voice in the control of certain branches of exhibition. The Woman's Building occupied an exceptionally fine [...]

By Randy|2018-03-11T14:37:56-05:00January 29th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , |0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 26)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 26 A VIEW TOWARD THE NORTHWEST.—From the roof of the Government Building some of the finest views of certain portions of the World's Fair grounds were had, and, among these, the one here presented is not the least attractive. It is from the north end of the roof and taken toward the northwest, it must have been in the early morning, for scarcely a figure is visible on the [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 25)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 25 THE MACMONNIES FOUNTAIN FRONT.—This view, taken from a position in the Grand Basin, affords a just idea of the appearance of the Columbian Fountain from the east, and of the steps and terrace down which the water tumbled in a cascade when the fountain was in action. The Sea Horses of Commerce, which were represented as assisting the rowers in the propulsion of the barge, uprear themselves in [...]

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 24)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 24 THE COURT OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT BUILDING.—In particular effects secured in the scores of imposing buildings within the grounds there were few more pleasing in many ways than that attained in the court connecting the pavilions of the French Building. This semi-circular colonnade forming the court and gallery was an admirable specimen of architecture in the Corinthian style, so far as its outside was concerned, and the device [...]

By Randy|2018-03-11T14:38:31-05:00January 21st, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
Go to Top