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98. Picturesque World’s Fair – Kaleife and his Dromedary
KALEIFE AND HIS DROMEDARY.—The Bedouin and the dromedary, "the ship of the desert," were very much in evidence at the Ottoman's Arab camp, or "Wild East Show ' The "ship" when under full sail around the encampment was gorgeously decorated, and his driver was not less brightly appareled. Why in a region as warm as the desert is supposed to be so much covering should be deemed a necessity [...]
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 [...]
97. Picturesque World’s Fair – Fettome, A Bedouin Woman
FETTOME, A BEDOUIN WOMAN.—Much as has been written about the Arabs and their wild life upon the North African plains, descriptions have been, as a rule, confined mostly to the men and how the woman of the desert lives, moves and has her being has been left largely to the imagination. So it came that the Bedouin women, at the Columbian Exposition, were looked upon with a good deal [...]
Columbian Exposition Poetry: “The Man in the Moon”
In honor of World Poetry Day, we offer this whimsical verse from the pen of popular newspaper poet Nixon Waterman, published in the December 1892 issue of Illustrated World's Fair. THE MAN IN THE MOON by Nixon Waterman The man in the moon, as he sails through the sky, Can't help but to turn an admiring eye, And linger a while as he passes the site Of that perfectly [...]
96. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Forestry Building
THE FORESTRY BUILDING.— None among the many department structures on the Fair grounds was built with more regard for what was symbolic of its uses than the Forestry Building. It stood very near the southeastern corner of the grounds and its eastern frontage was upon Lake Michigan. Its dimensions were five hundred by two hundred feet, and it had a central height of sixty feet. It was made entirely [...]
Mar. 23, 2020: History of Postcards at the McHenry County (IL) Historical Society and Museum
The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago was home to many firsts, including the first postcard printed as a souvenir in the United States. The McHenry County Historical Society and Museum will offer a program on the history of postcards on Monday, March 23, 2020, at 4 pm. Katherine Hamilton-Smith, former director of cultural resources for the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville and founding curator of the Curt [...]
CANCELLED Apr. 11, 2020: Devil in the White City Bus Tour
Experience the murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America on a 4-hour bus tour offered by the Chicago History Museum on Saturday, April 11, 2020, starting at 1 pm. Inspired by Erik Larson’s best-selling book (soon to be a miniseries), this tour will take you back to 1893 with historian Al Walavich, to follow the trails of Daniel Burnham and the devilish doings of H. H. Holmes. Visit the [...]
The World’s Fair That Ignored More Than Half the World
“The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 was a spectacle that has no real equivalent today: Think of a theme park where you can also listen to TED Talks, or the most cutting-edge trade show ever, held in obsessively manicured fairgrounds …” read the full article “The World’s Fair That Ignored More Than Half the World” by Rachel B. Tiven at JSTOR Daily.
POSTPONED Apr. 11, 2020: Chicago History Book Group Discusses Three Columbian Exposition Titles
At their meeting on Saturday, April 11, 2020, the Chicago History Book Discussion Group will discuss three important research books about the 1893 World’s Fair: An Early Encounter with Tomorrow by Arnold Lewis (University of Illinois Press, 1997) The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson (Crown, 2003), and The Fair Women by Jeanne Madeline Weimann (Chicago Review Press, [...]
Autographed Letter about Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and the 1893 World’s Fair Sells at Auction
A letter inviting the International Folk-Lorre Congress of the 1893 World's Fair to attend Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show has sold at auction for $937.50. Heritage Auctions' February 20, 2020, "Americana & Political Signature Auction" included the hand-written letter from Nate Salsbury, manager of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Company. An 1893 letter from Nate Salsbury, manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, inviting the International Folk-Lorre Congress at [...]
Raising the Ante for Midway Playing Cards
A Kickstarter campaign is raising funds for a new edition of Midway playing cards.
POSTPONED March 29, 2020: 26th Annual World’s Fair Memorabilia Show (Elk Grove Village, IL)
This event has been postponed. The 26th Annual World's Fair Memorabilia Show will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2020, 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 [...]
“Celebrating the Black History of Jackson Park” Video
The Obama Foundation has released a five-minute video titled “Celebrating the Black History of Jackson Park” that features the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Introduced by President Obama, the video touches upon the Haitian Pavilion, Frederick Douglass, and “Colored American Day” with historical perspectives from Chicago History Museum Assistant Curator Julius Jones, Associate Professor of History at the University of Chicago Adam Green, and President of the Jackson Park Advisory [...]
WGN-TV Documentary Explores “Hidden History” of African Americans at the 1893 World’s Fair
In honor of Black History Month WGN-TV aired a new half-hour documentary show titled “Hidden History” that included a segment on the experience of African Americans at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. WGN News anchor Micah Materre opened the six-minute segment reminding viewers that “African Americans have a long and storied history in Chicago,” with one important moment of African Americans influence on the world taking place in and [...]
Mar. 4, 2020: Toast Chicago’s Birthday with a (virtual) trip to the 1893 World’s Fair at the Chicago History Museum
The Chicago History Museum will toast Chicago's Birthday on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, with another opportunity to experience a virtual-reality visit to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The Chicago 00 Project will exhibit their spectacular 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition virtual reality experience. Guests will be taken on an immersive tour of the world’s fair, known for its dazzling White City and eclectic Midway Plaisance, experiencing Chicago’s past and present [...]
94. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Obelisk and Southern Colonnade
THE OBELISK AND SOUTHERN COLONNADE.—A fitting termination made to the view south on the South Canal was formed by the Southern Colonnade with the Obelisk in front. The Obelisk was history repeated in stone, or at least in its imitation, for it was a reproduction of the famous Cleopatra's needle, the original of which, thousands of years old, was presented by the Khedive of Egypt to the United States [...]
Mar. 3, 2020: World’s Fair Auction #36 closes
Columbian Exposition collectors may be interested in World’s Fair Auction #36, now open for preview. Online bidding closes on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. The auction catalog can be viewed at: http://www.worldsfairauction.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi. Lots 22 through 59 are items related to the 1893 World’s Fair, and include several products commemorating various building of the White City: a handsome powder jar made of milk glass and featuring a color image of an [...]
CANCELLED Mar. 19, 2020: “The Archaeology of Garbage and Consumerism at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair” Urban History Seminar (Chicago History Museum) GalleryCANCELLED Mar. 19, 2020: “The Archaeology of Garbage and Consumerism at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair” Urban History Seminar (Chicago History Museum)
CANCELLED Mar. 19, 2020: “The Archaeology of Garbage and Consumerism at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair” Urban History Seminar (Chicago History Museum)
The Chicago History Museum's Urban History Seminar on March 19, 2020, will be on “The Archaeology of Garbage and Consumerism at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair." Rebecca Graff, associate professor of anthropology at Lake Forest College (IL), will offer a scholarly presentation, followed by lively discussion. Reception with cash bar at 5:45 p.m. Dinner at 6:15 p.m. Presentation at 7:00 p.m. Reservations required. $25, price includes dinner and parking. The [...]
A Valentine’s Day Wish from Harriet Monroe
Here is a Valentine’s Day verse from Harriet Monroe’s Valyria and Other Poems (A.C. McClurg & Company, 1892), which she dedicated to the memory of architect John Wellborn Root. FOR JOHN PAUL Who sent roses on St. Valentine's day. Stay, sweet roses, stay but a day, Breathe me your souls ere your leaves decay. That over the air to my valentine I may waft him a perfume as rich [...]
World’s Fair Merch from the Driehaus Museum
While visiting “Eternal Light: The Sacred Stained-Glass Windows of Louis Comfort Tiffany” at the Driehaus Museum, we spotted some 1893 World’s Fair products in the third-floor gift shop. A few came home with us. The iconic Ferris Wheel is featured on a T-shirt ($24) that comes in two colors, an enamel pin ($10) and a pair of earrings. Some Oolong Tea ($9.99) from the Oliver Pluff & Co. comes [...]