Illinois State Building Archives - Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair

Curiosities from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
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Curiosities from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

NEWS

Curiosities from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

The University of Illinois has shared some interesting artifacts from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition that are held in the University Archives and campus libraries. The article by Nicole Cazley and Kim Schmidt features the University of Illinois Guest Register, a pass book for a member of John Philip Sousa’s band, a guidebook, a Certificate of Visitation [read more about these rare souvenirs here], a topographic map display, and stereograph cards. Read the article here: https://storied.illinois.edu/curiosities-1893-chicago-worlds-fair/ [...]

By Scott|2024-04-28T07:01:36-05:00April 28th, 2024|Categories: NEWS|Tags: Illinois State 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

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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

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

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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 Making of the White City (Part 2)
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The Making of the White City (Part 2)

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The Making of the White City (Part 2)

[Continued from Part 1] A great stage decked with ambitious scenery Perhaps the first thing that would strike a stranger entering the World’s Fair grounds in the summer of 1892 would be the silence of the place, the next the almost theatrical unreality of the impression by the sight of an assemblage of buildings so startlingly out of the common in size and form. When I speak of the silence, I mean the effect of silence. There are seven [...]

Childe Hassam painting of the 1893 World’s Fair sells for $44,000
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Childe Hassam painting of the 1893 World’s Fair sells for $44,000

ANTIQUES, NEWS

Childe Hassam painting of the 1893 World’s Fair sells for $44,000

American impressionist painter Childe Hassam (1859–1935) created several paintings of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition fairgrounds. He visited Chicago for the first time in 1892 to prepare his works that depicted what the World’s Fair would look like when open the following year. He also exhibited five oil paintings and five watercolors in the Palace of Fine Arts. An original 1893 World’s Fair painting by Hassam sold for $44,000 in the Heritage Auctions American Art Signature Auction #8099 on [...]

By Scott|2022-11-13T12:44:26-06:00November 13th, 2022|Categories: ANTIQUES, NEWS|Tags: Childe Hassam, Illinois State Building, Indiana State Building, Palace of Fine Arts|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

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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. [...]

124. Picturesque World’s Fair – State Buildings Looking South
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124. Picturesque World’s Fair – State Buildings Looking South

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124. Picturesque World’s Fair – State Buildings Looking South

STATE BUILDINGS—LOOKING SOUTH.—The city of State Buildings at the north end of the Fair Grounds afforded many interesting bird's-eye views, of which one of the prettiest is given in the accompanying illustration. The view taken is from an elevated point at the northern extremity of the inclosed area, and very nearly at the center east and west. In the foreground, at the right, appears the log-built chalet of Idaho, beyond which is the Maryland Building, the gable of that [...]

THE CITY OF WONDERS: A Souvenir of the World’s Fair (Chapter 8)
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THE CITY OF WONDERS: A Souvenir of the World’s Fair (Chapter 8)

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THE CITY OF WONDERS: A Souvenir of the World’s Fair (Chapter 8)

THE CITY OF WONDERS A SOUVENIR OF THE WORLD'S FAIR by Mary Catherine Crowley (1894)

By Scott|2024-08-29T09:33:14-05:00December 29th, 2019|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Columbian Liberty Bell, Florida State Building, Forestry Building, Illinois State Building, Krupp Gun, Liberty Bell, Machinery Hall, Massachusetts State Building, Palace of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania State Building|0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Curious Grain Picture (p. 86)
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PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Curious Grain Picture (p. 86)

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PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Curious Grain Picture (p. 86)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 86 – THE CURIOUS GRAIN PICTURE THE CURIOUS GRAIN PICTURE.—There were many fine exhibits in the big Illinois Building, many novel displays and a great showing of objects with what might be called an agricultural tendency, but the throng was always greatest at one particular point, that being immediately in front of what became known popularly as " The Grain Picture." The picture represented a typical, well-conducted Illinois prairie [...]

By Randy|2019-09-14T18:21:06-05:00September 14th, 2019|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Illinois State Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR|1 Comment

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Illinois Building (p. 78)
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PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Illinois Building (p. 78)

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PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – The Illinois Building (p. 78)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 77 – THE ILLINOIS BUILDING THE ILLINOIS BUILDING.—It is but just to say that the Illinois Building was not considered one of the beauties of the World's Fair. The great sum of $800,000 was appropriated by Illinois for World's Fair purposes, and of this sum a quarter of a million dollars was expended on the ambitious structure shown in the illustration, but it was not artistically speaking, worth the [...]

By Randy|2019-04-23T05:23:07-05:00April 23rd, 2019|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Illinois State Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, State Building|0 Comments