California State Building Archives - Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair

Seeing the Solar Eclipse of 1893 at the World’s Fair
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Seeing the Solar Eclipse of 1893 at the World’s Fair

HISTORY

Seeing the Solar Eclipse of 1893 at the World’s Fair

Did you see it? Viewers on April 8, 2024, snapped countless millions of photographs of the solar eclipse. For the total solar eclipse of April 16, 1893—visible in South America and Africa—only a handful of photographs were taken. At least one made it into a display at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. A photograph of the April 1893 solar eclipse, exhibited in the California State Building at the 1893 World's Fair. [Image from Bancroft, Hubert Howe [...]

By Scott|2024-04-08T08:34:28-05:00April 8th, 2024|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: California State Building, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building|0 Comments

162. Picturesque World’s Fair – On the Short of the North Lagoon
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162. Picturesque World’s Fair – On the Short of the North Lagoon

REPRINTS

162. Picturesque World’s Fair – On the Short of the North Lagoon

ON THE SHORE OF THE NORTH LAGOON.—There were many charming bits of scenery in the great Exposition grounds, and many novel views which could be enjoyed only from a boat or from points not generally sought by the mass of visitors. One of these views is represented in the accompanying picture, the observer being close to the south shore of the North Lagoon and just east of the strait leading to the bodies of water further south. On the [...]

By Randy|2024-03-09T11:48:14-06:00March 9th, 2024|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: California State Building, Illinois State Building, Indiana State Building, North Lagoon, North Pond, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Wisconsin State Building|0 Comments

California’s “Tower of Oranges” at the 1893 World’s Fair
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California’s “Tower of Oranges” at the 1893 World’s Fair

HISTORY

California’s “Tower of Oranges” at the 1893 World’s Fair

California had a knack for building unusual towers for the 1893 World’s Fair. An amber-hued obelisk known as the “Olive Oil Tower” greeted visitors entering the south portal of the California Building. This display from Santa Barbara County was constructed from 2,000 quart-sized bottles of virgin liquid. In the northwest corner of the building, Butte County built twin towers made from several hundred boxes of choice dried fruits. In an upper floor of the Horticultural Building stood a “Walnut [...]

By Scott|2023-12-12T14:51:11-06:00December 13th, 2023|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: California State Building, Horticultural Building, oranges, Tower of Oranges|0 Comments

158. Picturesque World’s Fair – A Vista of State Buildings
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158. Picturesque World’s Fair – A Vista of State Buildings

REPRINTS

158. Picturesque World’s Fair – A Vista of State Buildings

A VISTA OF STATE BUILDINGS.—Looking southwest from an elevated point about the middle of the north line of the Exposition Grounds, a view was had of a number of the most attractive State Buildings, and an idea obtained of the general appearance of this charming city by itself, which might be called the White City's great suburb, though, of course, quite as much a part of the Exposition as anything on the grounds. The White City proper was the [...]

By Randy|2023-12-09T09:44:01-06:00December 12th, 2023|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Arizona, California State Building, Delaware State Building, Idaho State Building, Illinois State Building, Maryland State Building, Montana State Building, New York State Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Utah State Building|0 Comments

The Humboldt County display in the California State Building at the 1893 World’s Fair
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The Humboldt County display in the California State Building at the 1893 World’s Fair

NEWS

The Humboldt County display in the California State Building at the 1893 World’s Fair

Glen Nash, “The Humboldt Historian,” shares a fascinating look at the Humboldt County display inside the California State Building at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. His article “The County’s Exhibition at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair Sounds Spectacular, but Putting it Together and Getting it Back Was Kind of a Pain in the Ass” appears on the Lost Coast Outpost.

By Scott|2023-09-23T13:41:11-05:00September 23rd, 2023|Categories: NEWS|Tags: California State Building|0 Comments

150. Picturesque World’s Fair – Interior of the Mining Building
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150. Picturesque World’s Fair – Interior of the Mining Building

REPRINTS

150. Picturesque World’s Fair – Interior of the Mining Building

INTERIOR OF THE MINING BUILDING.—There was much in the Mines and Mining Building the value of which was not apparent save to the expert, bit there was a great deal there also which was glitteringly attractive, and a great deal that was curious even to the casual visitor. The display of gold and silver made from some of the states was striking, as were the exhibits of precious stones from different countries, and the great monuments of coal were [...]

By Randy|2023-04-02T03:28:28-05:00April 2nd, 2023|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: California State Building, Germany, Mines and Mining Building, Montana State Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR|0 Comments

143. Picturesque World’s Fair – Under the Government Building Dome
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143. Picturesque World’s Fair – Under the Government Building Dome

REPRINTS

143. Picturesque World’s Fair – Under the Government Building Dome

Whatever might have been thought of the beauties of the United States Government Building as a whole, there was but one opinion as to the attraction of one scene its interior presented, that being directly underneath the dome of the great structure, and having for its single unique exhibit a house made within the trunk of one of California's monster trees. The section of trunk shown was thirty feet long and twenty-three feet across, and was divided laterally into [...]

By Randy|2023-12-05T09:39:10-06:00September 19th, 2022|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: California State Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, U.S. Government Building|0 Comments

137. Picturesque World’s Fair – North and West from the Government Building
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137. Picturesque World’s Fair – North and West from the Government Building

REPRINTS

137. Picturesque World’s Fair – North and West from the Government Building

NORTH AND WEST FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.—From the dome of the Government Building the prospect north and west afforded as much variety as could be had from any point of observation of the Fair Grounds, since in other directions the view was either much shorter or was cut off by the huge department structures. The illustration shows the Fisheries in the foreground, the details of the south façade of the main building outlined very clearly at such short distance. [...]

An original painting of the 1893 California State Building sells at auction
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An original painting of the 1893 California State Building sells at auction

ANTIQUES, NEWS

An original painting of the 1893 California State Building sells at auction

An original painting of the California State Building from the 1893 World’s Fair sold at auction for $2,800 on June 25, 2021. The 9.75-by-13.5-inch, unframed oil on canvas features the second largest state building (after that of Illinois) on the Columbian Exposition fairgrounds. Artist William Woodward (1859–1939), who served on the planning commission for his home state of Louisiana, depicted with impressionist flair a crowd passing in front the Mission Revival style building designed by architect A. Page Brown. [...]