U.S. Government Building – Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair

Displaying the Dead at the 1893 World’s Fair
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Displaying the Dead at the 1893 World’s Fair

HISTORY

Displaying the Dead at the 1893 World’s Fair

The U.S. Government Building at the 1893 World’s Fair housed exhibits from the official host of the Exposition. A display from one federal agency was described as “the grotesque mingling with the horrible, and tender sentiment jostling with the ghastly evidences of tragedies.” [Image from Harper’s Weekly August 26, 1893.] Many visitors to the U.S. Government Building at 1893 World’s Fair claimed that one display from a federal agency was the most interesting exhibit. More engaging than the [...]

By Scott|2025-07-19T08:41:15-05:00July 26th, 2025|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: U.S. Government Building, United States Post Office|0 Comments

25 Impressions of the 1893 World’s Fair
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25 Impressions of the 1893 World’s Fair

REPRINTS

25 Impressions of the 1893 World’s Fair

Toward the close of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, The Critic invited twenty-five notable scholars, writers, and leaders of the day to offer their brief impressions of the World’s Fair. At such a monumental event with so many novelties … what impressed them the most? It is interesting how frequently these contributors sing the same notes as they rhapsodize about the fairgrounds at night and the illumination of the Court of Honor, praise (except for Henry Fuller!) [...]

Tea from the Boston Tea Party at the 1893 World’s Fair
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Tea from the Boston Tea Party at the 1893 World’s Fair

HISTORY

Tea from the Boston Tea Party at the 1893 World’s Fair

Two hundred and fifty years ago, on December 16, 1773, American colonists angry at the British crown for imposing taxation without representation, staged what became known as “The Boston Tea Party.” This act of colonial defiance to British rule has become a legendary part of American history, although aspects of the story are steeped in myth. Some of the tea from Boston Harbor appears to have made its way to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In the [...]

By Scott|2023-12-16T12:18:20-06:00December 16th, 2023|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: Board of Lady Managers, Children's Building, U.S. Government Building, W.W. Denslow|0 Comments

152. Picturesque World’s Fair – California Sea Lions in the Government Building
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152. Picturesque World’s Fair – California Sea Lions in the Government Building

REPRINTS

152. Picturesque World’s Fair – California Sea Lions in the Government Building

CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. —The California Sea Lions, which afforded such a fine illustration of the taxidermist's skill and attracted so much comment in the Government Building, were like old friends, not merely to Californians who had seen them or their relations, enjoying themselves in the waters of the coast, but to thousands of people familiar with scenes in the parks of the great cities. The Sea Lions exhibited in the Government Building were fine specimens, [...]

By Randy|2023-05-30T05:51:57-05:00May 30th, 2023|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Government Building|0 Comments

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

REPRINTS

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 [...]

By Scott|2025-07-23T10:15:53-05:00February 13th, 2023|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Agricultural Building, Daniel Burnham, Electricity Building, Fisheries Building, Francis Millet, Frederick Law Olmsted, Golden Door, Henry Codman, Henry Ives Cobb, Horticultural Building, Illinois State Building, illumination, Jenny, Karl Bitter, lagoon, Machinery Hall, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, Mines and Mining Building, Palace of Fine Arts, Peabody & Stearns, Philip Martiny, Richard Hunt, Solon S. Beman, staff, Statue of the Republic, telephone, U.S. Government Building, Van Brunt & Howe, William Le Baron Jenney, Woman's Building|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|2025-06-27T16:27:04-05:00September 19th, 2022|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Big Tree, 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. [...]

By Randy|2022-04-24T13:28:09-05:00April 24th, 2022|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Brazil Building, Café de la Marine, California State Building, Fisheries Building, Guatemala Building, Illinois State Building, Merchant Tailors' Building, Michigan State Building, New York State Building, Ohio State Building, Palace of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania State Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Spectatorium, Swedish Building (Sweden), U.S. Government Building, Venezuela Building, Washington State Building, Wooded Island|0 Comments

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

REPRINTS

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 [...]

By Randy|2021-08-23T05:12:58-05:00August 23rd, 2021|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Connecticut State Building, Delaware State Building, Guatemala Building, Illinois State Building, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, Maryland State Building, Massachusetts State Building, New Jersey State Building, New York State Building, Palace of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania State Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Rhode Island State Building, U.S. Government Building, Vermont State Building, Virginia State Building|0 Comments

“Farthest North”: An Arctic Tableau at the 1893 World’s Fair
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“Farthest North”: An Arctic Tableau at the 1893 World’s Fair

HISTORY

“Farthest North”: An Arctic Tableau at the 1893 World’s Fair

Crowds gather at the 1893 World's Fair to see a panorama depicting the Greely Expedition to the North Pole. [Image from the Illustrated American World's Fair Special Issue, 1893.] Seventy five years ago today, arctic explorer David L. Brainard (1856–1946) died at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. He was the last survivor of the famous Lady Franklin Bay Expedition of 1881–84 under the command of Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely (1844–1935), whose final resting place is close [...]

By Scott|2021-05-08T14:38:44-05:00March 22nd, 2021|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: U.S. Government Building|0 Comments

93. Picturesque World’s Fair – Southwest from the Government Building
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93. Picturesque World’s Fair – Southwest from the Government Building

REPRINTS

93. Picturesque World’s Fair – Southwest from the Government Building

SOUTHWEST, FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING—The view southwest from the roof of the United States Government Building embraced a great number of attractive objects. The east lagoon and more than half the Wooded Island appeared conspicuously in the foreground, and there was no elevated place in the grounds from which the island and lagoon could be seen together that did not command a sight worth seeing, for any lover of the beautiful. To the left, immediately m front, is the [...]

By Randy|2020-01-26T06:35:44-06:00January 26th, 2020|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Electricity Building, Festival Hall, Golden Door, lagoon, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Transportation Building, U.S. Government Building|0 Comments

THE CITY OF WONDERS: A Souvenir of the World’s Fair (Chapter 7)
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THE CITY OF WONDERS: A Souvenir of the World’s Fair (Chapter 7)

REPRINTS

THE CITY OF WONDERS: A Souvenir of the World’s Fair (Chapter 7)

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

By Scott|2024-08-23T13:43:12-05:00December 28th, 2019|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Battleship Illinois, Big Tree, Casino, Declaration of Independence, George Washington, Model Post Office, Moving Sidewalk, postcards, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Government Building, whaleback Christopher Columbus|0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Fort Sheridan in the Government Building (p. 89)
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PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Fort Sheridan in the Government Building (p. 89)

REPRINTS

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Fort Sheridan in the Government Building (p. 89)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 89 – FORT SHERIDAN IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING FORT SHERIDAN IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.—In point of reproduction, under a roof, of certain objects connected with the aim of its display the government did exceptionally well. The lay figures of soldiers and animals, the first to exhibit styles of uniforms of different eras, the second to illustrate means of transportation under certain circumstances, were exceedingly life-like and deceived, for the [...]

By Randy|2019-11-01T10:57:00-05:00November 1st, 2019|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Fort Sheridan, Mexico, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, U.S. Government Building|0 Comments

Libraries at the Columbian Exposition
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Libraries at the Columbian Exposition

REPRINTS

Libraries at the Columbian Exposition

“Extremes meet at Chicago.” —librarian Caroline Harwood Garland. The 1893 World’s Fair was full of contrasts: exotic dancing on the Midway and educational exhibits; fountains illuminated by electricity and bibles illuminated by paintings, dynamos and the Dewey decimal system; balloon rides and books. Amidst the Cracker Jack and orange cider was also “food for reflection in the existence of so many libraries.” To celebrate National Library Week, let’s take a look at libraries at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. [...]

By Scott|2024-04-10T16:45:52-05:00April 7th, 2019|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Arkansas State Building, Battleship Illinois, Brazil Building, California State Building, Candace Wheeler, Ceylon Building, Children's Building, Clara Doty Bates, Colorado State Building, Costa Rica Building, Dora Wheeler Keith, East India Building, Florida State Building, Germany Building, Guatemala Building, Hamlin Garland, Idaho State Building, Ignacy Paderewski, Illinois State Building, Indiana State Building, Iowa State Building, Java Village, Kansas State Building, Kentucky State Building, Louisiana State Building, Maine State Building, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, Mary Hartwell Catherwood, Maryland State Building, Mines and Mining Building, Missouri State Building, Music Hall, Nebraska State Building, New York State Building, North Dakota State Building, Ohio, Pennsylvania State Building, rolling chairs, South Dakota State Building, Swedish Building (Sweden), Territory Building, Texas State Building, Theodore Thomas, Tiffany, Turkish Building (Turkey), U.S. Government Building, Utah State Building, Venezuela Building, Victoria House, Virginia State Building, Washington State Building, Wisconsin State Building, Woman's Building|0 Comments

Remembering William Eleroy Curtis, chairman of the Latin American Department
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Remembering William Eleroy Curtis, chairman of the Latin American Department

HISTORY

Remembering William Eleroy Curtis, chairman of the Latin American Department

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of William Eleroy Curtis, born on November 5, 1850, in Akron, Ohio. Curtis served the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition as the chairman of the Latin American Department and representative of the State Department for the U.S. Government Exhibit. Curtis was a journalist and traveling correspondent for the Chicago Inter-Ocean and the Record-Herald newspapers and authored more than thirty books, many about his travels and research in South America. For the Exposition, Curtis [...]

By Scott|2018-11-25T10:48:38-06:00November 5th, 2018|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: Caravels, Convent of La Rabida, U.S. Government Building, William E Curtis|0 Comments

Chicago History Museum Members Open House 2018
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Chicago History Museum Members Open House 2018

EVENTS (past), NEWS

Chicago History Museum Members Open House 2018

We are enthusiastic supporters of the Chicago History Museum here at WorldsFairChicago1893.com. The museum (formerly known as the Chicago Historical Society) owns a collection filled with interesting and rare items pertaining to the 1893 World’s Fair. The museum’s regular displays of WCE artifacts can be viewed in the “Chicago Crossroads” exhibit, and a stunning miniature view of the Court of Honor on the Grand Basin resides in the Chicago Dioramas room. The CHM Research Center provided access to one [...]

By Scott|2018-07-07T12:46:15-05:00July 7th, 2018|Categories: EVENTS (past), NEWS|Tags: Chase and Sanborn Coffee, Chicago History Museum, Libbey Glass, U.S. Government Building, Woman's Building|0 Comments

Columbian Exposition Stamp Collecting … and Complaints
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Columbian Exposition Stamp Collecting … and Complaints

ANTIQUES, REPRINTS

Columbian Exposition Stamp Collecting … and Complaints

Of the many “firsts” associated with the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the issuing of the first commemorative postage stamps by the United States Post Office became philatelic history. The set of sixteen stamps are among the most sought-after by collectors of stamps and Columbiana. In the winter of 1892, Postmaster-General John Wanamaker reported on the Columbian series: The introduction of the Columbian series of postage stamps will contribute in a marked way to the great recognition given by the [...]

By Scott|2018-06-10T10:39:42-05:00June 10th, 2018|Categories: ANTIQUES, REPRINTS|Tags: John Wanamaker, stamps, U.S. Government Building, United States Post Office|2 Comments

Opening Day, Part 13: The Greatest Crowd
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Opening Day, Part 13: The Greatest Crowd

OPENING DAY

Opening Day, Part 13: The Greatest Crowd

The Greatest Crowd This is Part 13 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. They saw a beautiful sight When the Opening Day ceremonies were over, visitors had time to look around the fairgrounds. They saw a beautiful sight: a forest of great buildings decorated with flags, banners, and streamers in artistic designs and harmony [...]

By Scott|2024-02-07T08:33:02-06:00May 4th, 2018|Categories: OPENING DAY|Tags: Administration Building, Columbian Guard, gondolas, Grand Basin, hospital, illumination, Intramural Railway, Jane Addams, Machinery Hall, May 1, Peristyle, Statue of the Republic, U.S. Government Building|2 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Interior View in the Government Building (p. 44)
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PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Interior View in the Government Building (p. 44)

REPRINTS

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR – Interior View in the Government Building (p. 44)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 44 – INTERIOR VIEW IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING INTERIOR VIEW IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.—While the building erected by the government of the United States was hardly counted among the architectural masterpieces of the Fair, it was at least to be expected that the vast resources available would make its exhibits of special interest, and in this respect public opinion was not wrong. From the possessions of the Smithsonian Institution, [...]

By Randy|2018-04-07T17:58:55-05:00April 5th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: flags, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Government Building|0 Comments

April 16, 2018: World’s Fair Auction in Cleveland
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April 16, 2018: World’s Fair Auction in Cleveland

ANTIQUES, EVENTS (past)

April 16, 2018: World’s Fair Auction in Cleveland

A large collection of 1893 World’s Fair antiques and collectibles will be going under the hammer on Monday, April 16. Gray’s Auctioneers “World's Fair Memorabilia and Collectibles” live auction in Cleveland, Ohio, starts at 11 AM (EDT) and features more than thirty Columbian Exposition items. Lots 20 through 51 include … • numerous pieces of decorative glassware, pottery and porcelain, including set of beautiful Libby glass peachblow rose bowls and a pair of ornate vases featuring images of the [...]

By Scott|2025-03-25T14:55:29-05:00April 3rd, 2018|Categories: ANTIQUES, EVENTS (past)|Tags: Art and Architecture, auction, Book of the Fair, Electricity Building, U.S. Government Building|0 Comments

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 26)
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PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 26)

REPRINTS

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS (p. 26)

PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS Page 26 A VIEW TOWARD THE NORTHWEST.—From the roof of the Government Building some of the finest views of certain portions of the World's Fair grounds were had, and, among these, the one here presented is not the least attractive. It is from the north end of the roof and taken toward the northwest, it must have been in the early morning, for scarcely a figure is visible on the [...]

By Randy|2018-03-11T14:38:09-05:00January 27th, 2018|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: Children's Building, Fisheries Building, Ho-o-den, lagoon, Midway Plaisance, PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR, Puck Building, U.S. Government Building|0 Comments