1. Ak-Sar-Ben and The Trans-Mississippi Exposition The World comes to Omaha 1898

2. Important People Edward Rosewater – Edward Rosewater – A jewish Bohemian Immigrant, newspaper editor of the Omaha Bee, Invested heavily in horse drawn streetcars Gurdon Wattles – Successful banker from Iowa Came to Omaha to get even richer Gurdon Wattles – Successful banker from Iowa Came to Omaha to get even richer George Miller – Editor of the World herald, invested with Rosewater in horse drawn streetcars George Miller – Editor of the World herald, invested with Rosewater in horse drawn streetcars

3. Edward Rosewater Forest Lawn Cemetery

4. William Paxton Forest Lawn Cemetery

5. The Creation of Ak Sar Ben Wattles, Rosewater, and Miller Wattles, Rosewater, and Miller Their goal was to make Omaha better than it was before the depression Their goal was to make Omaha better than it was before the depression Omaha needed a annual “Party” Omaha needed a annual “Party” A Mardi Gras type celebration! A Mardi Gras type celebration!

6. New Orleans Bound! Rosewater, Miller, and Wattles head to Mardi Gras Rosewater, Miller, and Wattles head to Mardi Gras After the celebration, they buy up all the floats and ship them by river boat up to Omaha After the celebration, they buy up all the floats and ship them by river boat up to Omaha

7. The Parade begins The group organizes a huge parade in honor of Omaha using the floats The group organizes a huge parade in honor of Omaha using the floats The city of Omaha loved it! The city of Omaha loved it!

8. The King and Queen are Crowned Like in Mardi Gras, a King and Queen are crowned along with a court of Princes and Princesses Like in Mardi Gras, a King and Queen are crowned along with a court of Princes and Princesses

9. The King and Queen of Ak Sar Ben The practice was like that of the Southern way of having a “Debutant Ball” The practice was like that of the Southern way of having a “Debutant Ball” The King was usually the son of a wealthy prominent family The King was usually the son of a wealthy prominent family The Queen was the selected the same way The Queen was the selected the same way A “coming out” ordeal A “coming out” ordeal

10. The King and Queen of Ak Sar Ben Today, the King is usually a great financial contributor and Today, the King is usually a great financial contributor and The Queen is like it was in the beginning of the ritual, a young attractive woman of a wealthy family The Queen is like it was in the beginning of the ritual, a young attractive woman of a wealthy family

11. North Omaha Comes Alive!

12. The Trans-Mississippi Expo Rosewater, Miller and Wattles team up again Rosewater, Miller and Wattles team up again The goal was to bring millions of people to Omaha The goal was to bring millions of people to Omaha They would create a “World’s Fair” They would create a “World’s Fair” World’s Fairs held annually, were a way to display the newest, latest and greatest technological gadgets World’s Fairs held annually, were a way to display the newest, latest and greatest technological gadgets

13. Wattles takes a chance After several bad investments, Wattles needed to find a “sure thing” went around to Omaha’s wealthy and had them invest After several bad investments, Wattles needed to find a “sure thing” went around to Omaha’s wealthy and had them invest He finds Herman Kountze to donate land and money He finds Herman Kountze to donate land and money

14. Wattles and Kountze Forest Lawn Cemetery

15. Herman Kountze Donates Land Herman Kountze donates his land for the Expo w/ a hidden plan* - gets very wealthy from the deal Herman Kountze donates his land for the Expo w/ a hidden plan* - gets very wealthy from the deal Omaha puts in sewers, etc. the wood that made up the Expo became houses in the area, which Kountze sold Omaha puts in sewers, etc. the wood that made up the Expo became houses in the area, which Kountze sold

16. N North Omaha *King Science Center *

17. Then…

18. Now…

19. Then… * WESTWest

20. Now…

21. Images of the Exposition

22. The Expo itself The Structures were meant to be temporary only The Structures were meant to be temporary only The buildings were made out of Stucco, Plaster, and Wood The buildings were made out of Stucco, Plaster, and Wood Brought in Indian Tribes and staged mock Indian battles Brought in Indian Tribes and staged mock Indian battles New technological gadgets, Plants, food, and cultures from all over the world to be on display New technological gadgets, Plants, food, and cultures from all over the world to be on display Had a huge lagoon where you ride on gondola boats Had a huge lagoon where you ride on gondola boats

23. Thomas Kimble comes on board Thomas Kimble Omaha’s most famous architect designs the buildings of the Exposition Thomas Kimble Omaha’s most famous architect designs the buildings of the Exposition (He also designed St. Cecilia’s Cathedral) (He also designed St. Cecilia’s Cathedral)

24. They come from all around 2,613,508 people total attended 2,613,508 people total attended President McKinley came and spoke President McKinley came and spoke Indian warrior Geronimo was on hand to meet folks Indian warrior Geronimo was on hand to meet folks

25. Assignment 1 You are to watch the video and take notes of the items/attractions that you find the coolest or most interesting You are to watch the video and take notes of the items/attractions that you find the coolest or most interesting You are to write a one page hand written letter home as if you were there experiencing the Expo. You are to write a one page hand written letter home as if you were there experiencing the Expo. Be detailed as to what you saw and describe it the best you can to your family back home Be detailed as to what you saw and describe it the best you can to your family back home You arrived by train and spent 3 days at the exposition. You arrived by train and spent 3 days at the exposition. This will be due when you walk in the door for the next class meeting, have fun with it! This will be due when you walk in the door for the next class meeting, have fun with it!

26. Assignment 2 You will be provided a map of modern day Omaha. You will be provided a map of modern day Omaha. You and a partner are tasked with developing an event similar to the Trans-Mississippi Expo. You and a partner are tasked with developing an event similar to the Trans-Mississippi Expo. You must indicate where would be the best place to do this (area). (Be realistic) You must indicate where would be the best place to do this (area). (Be realistic) What would you have there to showcase? What would you have there to showcase? How would you accommodate the masses that would attend? (Be realistic) How would you accommodate the masses that would attend? (Be realistic) How big would it be? Would it have a theme? How big would it be? Would it have a theme? What would you do with the money you raised form this? (Be realistic) What would you do with the money you raised form this? (Be realistic)

27. Assignment 2 (cont.) You will be graded on: You will be graded on: 1. The quality of thought put into this. 2. Detailed presentation, the more detailed you are, the better the grade. 3. Your idea must be practical to do. The rationale must be realistic.