An Archive of Past Events
Relating to the 1893 World’s Fair
Sept. 13-Nov. 4, 2019: DEADLY, a New Musical Set at the 1893 World’s Fair (Los Angeles)
A new musical set at the 1893 World’s Fair makes its world premiere at the Sacred Fools Theater Company of Los Angeles this fall. Deadly, written by Vanessa Claire Stewart, with music by Ryan Thomas Johnson, explores the chilling events of the “murder castle” operating near the grounds of the Columbian Exposition. The twin stories of the Fair and the serial killer, which were the subject of Erik Larson’s dramatic non-fiction book The Devil in the White City (2003), have been a popular subject for theater and dance. A comedic show ran in Indianapolis this summer, and a 2014 ballet [...]
Sept. 8, 2019: “Walking the White City” Tour in Jackson Park
The Glessner House is sponsoring "Walking the White City," a walking tour of Jackson Park on Sunday, September 8, 2019, from 10 am to noon. Led by architect and historian John Waters, the tour will locate the sites of landmarks of the fair, explore the fascinating vestiges of the fair that still remain, and show how the fair influenced the design of Jackson Park as we know it today. The tour costs $25 per person ($20 for Glessner House members) and pre-paid reservations (required) can be made here. The tour begins at the Statue of the Republic in Jackson [...]
Sept. 7, 2019-Mar. 22, 2020: “Eternal Light: The Sacred Stained-Glass Windows of Louis Comfort Tiffany” at the Driehaus Museum (Chicago)
“Eternal Light: The Sacred Stained-Glass Windows of Louis Comfort Tiffany” at the Driehaus Museum features items exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
June 25, 2019: World’s Fair Auction #34 closes
Columbian Exposition collectors may be interested in World’s Fair Auction #34, now open for preview. Online bidding closes on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at 10 PM EDT. The auction catalog can be viewed at: http://www.worldsfairauction.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi. Lots 19 through 55 are items related to the 1893 World’s Fair, and include several products commemorating various building of the White City: • a demitasse satuma cup with pictures of Machinery Hall and the U.S. Government Building; • a "World's Fair Prize Puzzle" word puzzle, with box; • a round metal box with die cut raised image of the Illinois State Building on [...]
June 23, 2019: Presentation on the World’s Columbian Exposition at the Batavia (IL) Historical Society
The quarterly meeting of the Batavia Historical Society (Batavia, IL) on Sunday, June 23 will feature a presentation by Karl Bruhn on the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Karl Bruhn of Batavia is a retired history teacher and volunteer for the Chicago Architecture Center. The meeting is free and open to the public and will be held at Batavia City Hall Council Chamber (100 N. Island Ave, Batavia IL 60510) starting at 2 pm. Some information provided by the Kane County Chronicle.
June 14-July 7, 2019: “White City Murder” takes the stage in Indianapolis
Eric Larson’s fascinating best-seller The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America (2003) introduced many to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. For better or for worse, his pairing of the story of building the World’s Fair in Jackson Park and the exploits of serial killer H. H. Holmes in nearby Englewood has made an enduring connection between the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and murder. [For the record: no known murders occurred on the fairgrounds.] A comedic twist on this pairing is coming in the form of a new musical opening on [...]
June 14, 2019: “The Devil’s Ball” at the Auditorium Theater (Chicago)
An evening inspired by the 1893 World’s Fair takes the stage at the historic Auditorium Theatre on Friday, June 14, 2019. The Auxiliary Board’s annual Devil’s Ball promises to be “a night of devilishly good fun” that features a premium open bar with beer, wine, and cocktails; heavy hors d’oeuvres featuring global cuisine; and dancing on the stage that has hosted artists and performers for 130 years. Designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, the Auditorium was the nation's largest structure when it opened in 1889. At the grand opening of the Auditorium Building, held on December 9, President Benjamin [...]
June 2, 2019: “When the World Came to Chicago: The 1893 Columbian Exposition” at Elmhurst History Museum
In conjunction with their new exhibit “Worlds of Wonder: Remembering Chicagoland's Amusement Parks” the Elmhurst History Museum is hosting an event focused on the 1893 World’s Fair. “When the World Came to Chicago: The 1893 Columbian Exposition” is offered at the Museum on June 2, 2019, from 2-3 p.m. The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition is often credited with putting Chicago on the international map, and citizens have long been fascinated with the fascinating details of this amazing fair that welcomed more than 27 million visitors. Al Walavich, a lifelong Chicagoan, local historian, and collector will share stories about the planning, [...]
May 17-Aug. 18, 2019: “Worlds of Wonder: Remembering Chicagoland’s Amusement Parks” exhibit (Elmhust, IL)
The Elmhurst History Museum will open a new exhibit titled “Worlds of Wonder: Remembering Chicagoland's Amusement Parks” on May 17, 2019. Chicago has had its share of jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring amusement parks, from the rotations of the first Ferris Wheel at the 1893 World's Columbian exhibition to the ups-and-downs of The Bobs at Riverview. This new exhibit celebrates Chicago's favorite destinations for fun and thrills, including early trolley parks and suburban attractions like Kiddieland and Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom. Learn about the signature rides and iconic venues through rare photos and video, memorabilia, advertisements and intriguing artifacts. Families will encounter hands-on [...]
May 5, 2019: 25th Annual World’s Fair Memorabilia Show (Elk Grove Village, IL)
The 25th Annual World's Fair Memorabilia Show will be held on Sunday, May 5, 2019, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Holiday Inn at 1000 Busse Road (Rt. 83 and Landmeier Rd.) in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Collectors and dealers will meet to buy, sell, and trade items related to World's Fairs from 1876 to the present. Although the main focus will be on the 1933/34 Chicago World's Fair, there will also be items from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and other Chicago-related ephemera. More than 15 tables of World's Fair items for sale will also include items [...]