RECENT POSTS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION’S BUILDING, FAIRGROUNDS, EXHIBITS, EVENTS, AND PEOPLE.
130. Picturesque World’s Fair – Fire-Works July 4th from the roof of the Manufactures Building
FIRE-WORKS JULY 4th FROM THE ROOF OF THE MANUFACTURES BUILDING.--A view of just such quality as was never had before and may not be had again for a long time was gained by those of the World's Fair visitors who witnessed a fire-works display from such vantage ground as the roof of the Manufactures Building afforded. Upon that great area in mid-air a host of people could be assembled and, on the warm summer nights, thousands improved the opportunity for a delightful experience. To the east stretched away the lake as a background for the brilliant display, sometimes, on [...]
129. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Spanish Caravels – Pinta and Nina
THE SPANISH CARAVELS, " PINTA" AND " NIÑA."—The Spanish Caravels should have had their names painted on their sides to distinguish them apart; at least, so thought many of the visitors to the Fair; for their build was singularly alike with the " Santa Maria " and " Pinta." The " Niña " was distinguishable enough, as she had no raised deck at the bow, did not overhang like the others, and had no square sails of the ordinary type, only the long rakish-looking yards which hung slantwise of the masts with a sort of Lascar, piratical sweep to [...]
1893 World’s Fair ends in tragedy
The World's Columbian Exposition closed on October 30, 1893. The Chicago Sun-Times recalls the tragedy that cast a shadow over the planned, but cancelled, closing ceremonies. The full story is available at "World’s Fair ends in tragedy".
128. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Falls of the Columbian Fountain
THE FALLS OF THE COLUMBIAN FOUNTAIN.—Viewed from its front, and at a point not remote, the overflow of the Columbian Fountain afforded the spectacle of one of the most charming of'cataracts. The mass of water tumbled down from level to level in a great foaming semi-circle, until, finally, it plunged into the Grand Basin, a white sheet impress-ive in its beauty. Wider than the famous Falls of Minnehaha, though with not quite so much descent, the falls of the fountain reminded hosts of people of that pretty spectacle in Minnesota which Longfellow made so celebrated. "A table-cloth of pure [...]
Jun. 19, 2021–Jan. 9, 2022: “Chicago: When the Comics Came to Life” (Chicago Cultural Center)
Chicago’s role in the development of the early comic strip is the focus of a temporary exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center. Curated by artist and author Chris Ware, and Chicago Cultural Historian Emeritus, Tim Samuelson, “Chicago: When the Comics Came to Life” features the works of prominent Chicago artists and publishers from circa 1880 to 1960, with most artifacts coming from the curators’ personal collections. The vibrant and colorful story of the history of comics runs through the White City of the 1893 World Fair in Chicago. The first appearance of color comics printed in the United States [...]
Oct. 8, 2021: “City on Fire” opens at the Chicago History Museum
Embers of the Great Chicago Fire continue to smolder. Stories of tragedy and triumph from October 8–10, 1871, and the years of rebuilding that followed have been cause for somber remembrance and jubilant celebration throughout the years, including at “Chicago Day” held at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Fire, the Chicago History Museum has opened a new permanent exhibit, “City on Fire: Chicago 1871." Several displays and artifacts connected to the 1893 World’s Fair are featured. “City on Fire” focuses on the experiences of several survivors of the conflagration, including ten-year-old Fannie [...]
127. Picturesque World’s Fair – Eastern Portal of Machinery Hall
EASTERN PORTAL OF MACHINERY HALL.—The view here given is an admirable one of the eastern entrance to Machinery Hall and makes plain the remarkable architectural style of that great edifice. The entrance has been described at length, but only such a view as this, the reproduction of a photograph taken from the Agriculture Building at a point directly across the canal, could bring out the charming details. The portico of this entrance was a popular resort because here was a regular stopping place for the boats, a couple of gondolas which are in the picture showing where the landing [...]
“Jennie” survived the Great Chicago Fire and visited the 1893 World’s Fair
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition celebrated the twenty-second anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 with “Chicago Day” on October 9, 1893. With around three-quarter-of-a-million people filling the fairgrounds, it was thought to be the largest peaceful gathering in human history. Among the visitors was one special guest who had survived the Fire due to the dedication her “mother,” ten-year-old Fannie Belle Becker. The article below, from the October 10, 1893, issue of the Chicago Tribune, describes the story behind a doll’s visit to 1893 World’s Fair. The Great Chicago Fire & The Web of Memory offers more [...]
126. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Penobscot Indian Camp
THE PENOBSCOT INDIAN CAMP.—To those familiar with the history of the Indians who lived near the Atlantic coast and so came into early contact with the whites, the Penobscot Indian Camp, or Village, was an object of interested study. There were four families of Penobscots, or, as they were once called, "Panawanskeks," and there was also a lodge of Iroquois, peopled by a few of the living representatives of that famous tribe, and forming a part of the New York State exhibit. The Iroquois' but is that seen on the left in the illustration,differing materially in construction from the [...]
Sept. 21, 2021: World’s Fair Auction #39 closes
Columbian Exposition collectors may be interested in World’s Fair Auction #39, now open for preview. Online bidding closes at 10:00 PM EST on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. The auction catalog can be viewed at: http://www.worldsfairauction.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi. Lots 21 through 71 are items related to the 1893 World’s Fair, and include several products commemorating various building of the White City: a china vase decorated with an image of the Horticultural Building; Report of the Committee on Awards World's Columbian Commission two-volume set; a Dedication Day program; a Libbey Glass Company exhibit booklet; a large selection of medals, coins, badges, and elongated [...]