Daniel Burnham Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair

Pillars of the Fair: John Root and Henry Codman
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Pillars of the Fair: John Root and Henry Codman

HISTORY, LOST & FOUND

Pillars of the Fair: John Root and Henry Codman

Two pillars of the 1893 World’s Fair died unexpectedly before they could complete their work on the fairgrounds. Even the preliminary architectural contributions of both men, however, played a monumental role in the success of the Columbian Exposition. So, it was fitting that a small monument to the memory of these two leading designers graced the fairgrounds. John Wellborn Root (left) and Henry Sargent Codman (right). Glorious achievements January 13 marks the anniversary of the death of [...]

By Scott|2022-12-10T10:11:00-06:00January 13th, 2019|Categories: HISTORY, LOST & FOUND|Tags: Columbian Fountain, Daniel Burnham, Devil in the White City (book), Field Museum, Frederick Law Olmsted, Harriet Monroe, Harriet Monroe’s History of the World’s Fair, Henry Codman, John Root, MacMonnies Fountain, Museum of Science and Industry, Palace of Fine Arts|2 Comments

Columbian Exposition Books from 2018
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Columbian Exposition Books from 2018

FICTION, PRODUCTS, RESEARCH

Columbian Exposition Books from 2018

The 125th anniversary year of the World’s Columbian Exposition offered scholarship, images, and fiction relating to the World’s Fair in several new publications in 2018. Pioneers of Promotion: How Press Agents for Buffalo Bill, P. T. Barnum, and the World’s Columbian Exposition Created Modern Marketing by Joe Dobrow. University of Oklahoma Press. Communications professional and business history writer Joe Dobrow traces the origins of modern American marketing by shining the spotlight on three men: pioneers of promotion John M. [...]

By Scott|2024-10-27T12:19:09-05:00January 5th, 2019|Categories: FICTION, PRODUCTS, RESEARCH|Tags: Buffalo Bill, Daniel Burnham, Devil in the White City (book), Frederick Douglass, Frederick Law Olmsted, Ho-o-den, Ida B. Wells, Jackson Park, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Moses P. Handy|0 Comments

The Dying Scene of this Magnificent Exposition: Mayor Carter Harrison’s Final Speech
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The Dying Scene of this Magnificent Exposition: Mayor Carter Harrison’s Final Speech

REPRINTS

The Dying Scene of this Magnificent Exposition: Mayor Carter Harrison’s Final Speech

World’s Columbian Exposition celebrated “American Cities Day” on Saturday, October 28, 1893, two days before the close of the Fair. Chicago’s Mayor, Carter Harrison, hosted what was thought to be the largest congregation of U.S. mayors ever assembled. Greeting the guests as they arrived on the fairgrounds on the bitterly cold day was the blast of a cannon and musical fanfares from a group of sixteen trumpeters stationed around Music Hall. Mayors represented the great cities of Philadelphia, Milwaukee, [...]

By Scott|2022-12-10T10:10:40-06:00October 28th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: American Cities Day, Carter Harrison, Columbian Liberty Bell, Daniel Burnham, Devil in the White City (book), Eugene Patrick Prendergast, Grover Cleveland, John Root, Manhattan Day, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, Music Hall, New York, New York State Building, Tiffany|0 Comments

Remembering Robert Swain Peabody, architect of Machinery Hall
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Remembering Robert Swain Peabody, architect of Machinery Hall

HISTORY

Remembering Robert Swain Peabody, architect of Machinery Hall

Robert Swain Peabody (February 22, 1845-September 23, 1917) died on this day at his summer home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Cofounder of the renowned Boston architectural firm of Peabody & Stearns, he was one of the select east-coast architects invited by Daniel Burnham to contribute to the design of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Despite his pessimistic statement in 1891 about the prospect of constructing the World’s Fair on the rough grounds of Jackson Park (“It can’t be done”), [...]

By Scott|2018-09-21T09:44:17-05:00September 23rd, 2018|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: Daniel Burnham, Machinery Hall, Massachusetts State Building, Robert S. Peabody|0 Comments

Inside the Administration Building Dome: “The Glorification of the Arts and Sciences” by William Dodge (Part I)
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Inside the Administration Building Dome: “The Glorification of the Arts and Sciences” by William Dodge (Part I)

HISTORY

Inside the Administration Building Dome: “The Glorification of the Arts and Sciences” by William Dodge (Part I)

PART I: DECORATING THE DOME OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING “Fame comes only after death to those who have slaved during life.” —William de Leftwich Dodge The gem and crown of the Exposition Along with the Ferris Wheel and the Statue of the Republic, this magnificent structure is one of the most iconic images of the 1893 World’s Fair. With its grand and golden dome, the Administration Building towered over the fairgrounds from a commanding position of honor at the [...]

By Scott|2022-03-05T10:33:42-06:00September 2nd, 2018|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: Administration Building, Daniel Burnham, Francis Millet, Frederick MacMonnies, Glorification of the Arts, Grover Cleveland, Horticultural Building, MacMonnies Fountain, Opening Day, Princess Eulalia, Richard Hunt, William Dodge, William Pretyman|1 Comment

Icons of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition notecards
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Icons of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition notecards

PRODUCTS, VISUAL ARTS

Icons of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition notecards

The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) in Chicago held their “Revel in the White City” virtual simulation at the museum on May 19 and May 20 to a packed auditorium. It was spectacular. Making the event even more festive were a set of posters designed by Chicago artist David Lee Csicsko, titled “Icons of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.” Greeting cards of the set of eight images were available for sale at the museum. Csicsko is an acclaimed [...]

By Scott|2022-03-05T10:20:57-06:00May 20th, 2018|Categories: PRODUCTS, VISUAL ARTS|Tags: Charles Atwood, Daniel Burnham, David Lee Csicsko, Frank Lloyd Wright, Frederick Law Olmsted, Louis Sullivan, Museum of Science and Industry, Palace of Fine Arts, Sophia Hayden, Statue of the Republic|0 Comments

June 1-July 1, 2018: “Burnham’s Dream: The White City” musical
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June 1-July 1, 2018: “Burnham’s Dream: The White City” musical

EVENTS (past), THEATER

June 1-July 1, 2018: “Burnham’s Dream: The White City” musical

The world premiere of a new musical about the Director of Works for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition opens on June 1 for a one-month run in Chicago. “Burnham’s Dream: The White City,” written by June Finfer with music by Elizabeth Doyle, tells “the tale of ambition of a city and of an architect … Chicago’s Dream City that lived for only a few months, then vanished.” In her 2010 play, “The Glass House,” Finfer explored the life and [...]

By Scott|2018-07-02T16:02:43-05:00May 13th, 2018|Categories: EVENTS (past), THEATER|Tags: Daniel Burnham|0 Comments

Opening Day, Part 12: Tour of the Fairgrounds
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Opening Day, Part 12: Tour of the Fairgrounds

OPENING DAY

Opening Day, Part 12: Tour of the Fairgrounds

Tour of the Fairgrounds This is Part 12 of our series “Opening Day of the World’s Fair,” which explores the events of May 1, 1893, at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The full series can be found here. After the “Banquet of Nations” luncheon, President Cleveland and his entourage embarked on a whirlwind tour of the Columbian Exposition grounds and buildings. They departed from the north entrance of the Administration Building where carriages were waiting. “President Cleveland [...]

Opening Day, Part 3: A Sea of Humanity
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Opening Day, Part 3: A Sea of Humanity

OPENING DAY

Opening Day, Part 3: A Sea of Humanity

A Sea of Humanity This is Part 3 of our series “Opening Day of the World’s Fair,” which explores the events of May 1, 1893, at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The full series can be found here. As the procession of the President of the United States began its march south on Michigan Avenue, thousands of people in downtown Chicago began forming their own spontaneous parade to the World’s Fair. Everyone on West Madison Street and North [...]

Opening Day, Part 2: Presidential Procession to the Fairgrounds
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Opening Day, Part 2: Presidential Procession to the Fairgrounds

OPENING DAY

Opening Day, Part 2: Presidential Procession to the Fairgrounds

Presidential Procession to the Fairgrounds This is Part 2 of our series “Opening Day of the World’s Fair,” which explores the events of May 1, 1893, at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The full series can be found here. Finely decorated with flags and bunting The Auditorium Building, where the Duke of Vergua stayed. [Image from the Rijksmueum, Amsterdam.] On the morning of Opening Day of the 1893 World’s Fair, the center of attraction in downtown Chicago [...]