The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair was an international exposition that brought millions of visitors from all over the world to Chicago, Illinois, for a six month fair designed to show the very best that each nation had to offer. Formally titled the World’s Columbian Exposition, it commemorated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ first expedition to the Americas. It was in this spirit of discovery, of a foray into the unknown, that nations came together to share their progress and their optimism for the future. Many American cities were considered to host the fair, but the honor was won by Chicago, eager to create a triumphant comeback after its Great Fire of 1871. The fairgrounds stretched across nearly 700 acres of Jackson Park, located on the coast of Lake Michigan near the city center. Nicknamed “The White City” for its sea of uniform white neoclassical buildings surrounded by sleepy lagoons, it was meant to represent the ideal city, something unearthly, where exotic novelties from all over the world would be brought before the public. As host, America was the focal point, and much of the grounds were dedicated to individual buildings where each state could show off their most impressive accomplishments.
The article continues on the JoCoHistory Blog. The exterior and interior photos of the Kansas Building at the 1983 Chicago World's Fair are not to be missed!