The Palmer Puzzler
The Palmer PuzzlerOur monthly World’s Fair
Trivia Contest
Our monthly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize.
January 2024 Trivia Question
Our seasonal newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The January 2024 Trivia Question The Ceremonies for Closing Day of the 1893 World’s Fair, scheduled for October 30, were abruptly cancelled following the murder of Mayor Carter Harrison two days earlier. The celebration was to have ended with the entire audience being led by choral director William L. Tomlins in the singing of what song? A. “After the Ball” B. “Columbian Hymn” C. “Hail, Columbia” D. “Auld Lang [...]
Spring 2020 Trivia Question
Our seasonal newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The Spring 2020 Trivia Question Who was the "Tiger King" of the 1893 World's Fair? A. George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. B. Francis Millet C. P. T. Barnum D. Carl Hagenbeck E. George R. Davis Many readers knew that the correct answer is Carl Hagenbeck, proprietor of Hagenbeck’s Wild Animal Arena and Museum (among other names) on the Midway Plaisance. “Tiger King,” of course, is moniker attributed to a fascinating/freaky [...]
Winter 2019 Trivia Question
Our seasonal newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The Winter 2019 Trivia Question What was at the top of the staff held in the left hand the Statue of the Republic? A. an eagle B. a wreath of laurel and placard proclaiming liberty C. a Phrygian cap D. a globe E. a torch We had several correct submissions of answer C. The first came from J.H. of Indiana, to whom we’ll be sending a holiday card showing [...]
Autumn 2019 Trivia Question
Our seasonal newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The Autumn 2019 Trivia Question Which famous world leader stood motionless on the fairgrounds of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition pointing at the New York State Building? We had several interesting guesses--Teddy Roosevelt (who was at the Fair), George Washington, and Winston Churchill, and one correct answer: Augustus Julius Caesar. A replica of the famous statue Augustus of Prima Porta in the collection of the Vatican stood at the [...]
Summer 2019 Trivia Question
Our seasonal newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. Gondola on the North Pond, featuring a traditional fero da prora. [Image from Johnson, Rossiter A History of the World's Columbian Exposition Volume 1 - Narrative. D. Appleton and Co., 1897.] The Summer 2019 Trivia Question The prow of a traditional Venetian gondola has a metal plate (a fero da prora), which serves as a counterweight to the gondolier. The design symbolizes the S shape of the [...]
Spring 2019 Trivia Question
Our quarterly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The Spring 2019 Trivia Question In the image above can be seen the Wooded Island, spread out below the balloon. Just out the frame to the left (south) would have been a small log cabin, erected by future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt as a museum and memorial to honor what two American frontiersmen? The winner of the Winter 2018 Trivia Question is J.V. from Wisconsin, who knew the answer [...]
Winter 2018 Trivia Question
Our quarterly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The Winter 2018 Trivia Question Which state building on the fairgrounds was surmounted by a 9-foot elk with antlers measuring ten feet from tip to tip? A. Idaho B. Montana C. Wyoming D. Nevada The winner of the Winter 2018 Trivia Question is R.S. from Wheaton, IL, who knew the answer is B. White & Igleheart's World's Columbian Exposition Chicago 1893 (P. W. Ziegler, 1893) describes the unique Montana Building [...]
November 2018 Trivia Question
Our monthly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The November 2018 Trivia Question Which of the Great Buildings in the White City featured a ring of ornamental turkey sculptures on its roof? A. the Transportation Building B. the Agricultural Building C. the U.S. Government Building D. the Palace of Poultry The answer is B. A ring of turkeys decorated the dome of the Agricultural Building, designed by the firm of McKim, Mead & White. Many Americans thought that [...]
October 2018 Trivia Question
Our monthly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The October 2018 Trivia Question For the grand night pageant held on Chicago Day (October 9), the General Electric Company and Chicago Edison sponsored a float shaped as … A. a giant light bulb B. a wizard of electricity C. Thor, the Germanic god of thunder and lightning D. an electric dragon that exhaled fire The winner of the Trivia Question is D.C., who knew the answer is D. [...]
September 2018 Trivia Question
Our monthly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The September 2018 Trivia Question To accompany our “Brownies in September” post, here is a trivia question about (the other kind of) brownies at the Fair. One origin story for the delicious chocolate treats is that they were invented for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Bertha Palmer, head of the Board of Lady Managers, directed Palmer House pastry chefs to come up with a dessert that would be easy [...]
August 2018 Trivia Question
Our monthly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The August 2018 Trivia Question Who served as the “rolling chair boys,” assisting visitors around the fairgrounds? A. college students from across the country B. husbands of the women working in the Irish Village C. Civil War veterans D. New Yorkers still sore about losing their bid to host the Fair. ANSWER: Young men from colleges across the country served as “rolling chair boys.” See our post about “Rolling-Chair [...]
July 2018 Trivia Question
Our monthly newsletter includes a “Palmer Puzzler” exclusive to those who subscribe. (You can sign up here.) The first person to send us the correct answer wins a small prize. The July 2018 Trivia Question Which of the following Liberty Bells was NOT on display at the 1893 World's Fair? A. the original Liberty Bell from Philadelphia. B. a "New Liberty Bell" cast in honor of the Fair. C. a Liberty Bell made out of oranges and other citrus fruit. D. a Liberty Bell made out of grains of wheat, oats, and rye. E. a Liberty Bell made out of Cracker [...]