1. The Fair Chicago’s First World’s Fair The Columbian Exposition of 1893

2. The Fair  Commemorated the 400 th Anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the new world  Fairs in the 19 th cent. were a combo. of inventors’ showcases, international meetings, promotions, and entertainment  Fairs were typically held in the world’s most beautiful cities; Chicago did not really fit that description in the 1890s

3. Chicago and The Fair  Chicago was a filthy place in the 1890s  Chi. was riddled w/crime, prostitution, and gambling  Chi. had no museums or classy theatres  New York journalist Charles A. Dana said, “Don’t pay any attention to the nonsensical claims of that windy city.”  And a new nickname for Chi. was born; Dana was referring to cities self-promoting “Hot air”.  Chi. raised $10 Million, congress was impressed, and Chi. got the fair

4. The White City  Fairgrounds called White City; located along Lake Michigan Jackson Park  Land was marshy undeveloped sand dunes  In 3 yrs. it was transformed into a small international city  All buildings were white plaster accompanied by lagoons, parks, and moving sidewalks

5. White City cont…  At height of construction 12,000 men would be building fairground at one time  They could work at night thanks to newly invented electric lights  One of the workers was Elias Disney, the father of Walter Disney

6. Inside The Fair  72 nations sent exhibits; 19 nations even built their own buildings  Manufacturers & Liberal Arts Building was the biggest building in the world at the time. Today it is the Museum of Science and Industry  The Art Institute was built to attract people to downtown

7. Inside The Fair  Exhibits Sculptures made of butterSculptures made of butter A map of U.S. made of picklesA map of U.S. made of pickles Two-headed pigTwo-headed pig Electricity Building displayed 130,000 light bulbsElectricity Building displayed 130,000 light bulbs

8. The Ferris Wheel  Chicago unveiled the world’s first Ferris Wheel Designed by George W. FerrisDesigned by George W. Ferris Wheel was 140 ft. highWheel was 140 ft. high 60 people per cart60 people per cart 36 total cabs=2160 riders at one time36 total cabs=2160 riders at one time Took 20 minutes to complete a full revolutionTook 20 minutes to complete a full revolution **Navy Pier’s modern Ferris Wheel only holds 6 people per cart**Navy Pier’s modern Ferris Wheel only holds 6 people per cart

9. New Inventions  Electric calculating machines  Kinetoscope (Forerunner of the movie projector)  60 ft. cannons  The lightbulb

10. Effect  Fair was open from 5/1/1893-10/30/1893 and saw 27 million visitors  What do the fire, the fair, and the bomb tell us? Fire: How people could pick themselves up, build again and progressFire: How people could pick themselves up, build again and progress Fair: Attempted to show the world that urban harmony in the form of a utopian city was possible in AmericaFair: Attempted to show the world that urban harmony in the form of a utopian city was possible in America Bomb: (Haymarket): Showed how people would be held accountable for radicalism, and society declared that America would be run by law and orderBomb: (Haymarket): Showed how people would be held accountable for radicalism, and society declared that America would be run by law and order