The great fortunes amassed during the 19th century’s “Gilded Age” came to an end during the recessions of the early 1890’s. The economic turmoil came to a head in 1893 when the United States lodged into a depression. America was in the throes of transition, shifting social and economic power from people and government to big business, later catalyzing 20th century America into a worldwide superpower. The 1893 World’s Fair, known as the Columbian Exposition, became the vehicle for America’s redefining shift into the brave new world of modern technology, social stratification and economics.
Background
Consider the 1893 World’s Fair to have been the Super Bowl of its time. For five months, Chicago took the spotlight, hosting one-quarter of all Americans—27 million visitors—from May 1 to October 31, 1893. It took planners three years to ready Chicago for the fair, costing $28 million—over $ 671 million when taking inflation into consideration . Prior to the Columbian Exposition, which began loosely as a tribute to Christopher Columbus’s Discovery of America 400 years prior, Philadelphia hosted the second World’s Fair in 1876, after London’s “Crystal Palace” Exposition in 1851. The House of Representatives granted Chicago its turn in 1890, after Chicago’s City Council and a 100-citizen committee raised $5 million and petitioned the House in 1889. The one stipulation, or catch, was that Chicago had to raise an additional $5 million in order to house the fair on the 633 acres of Jackson Park.
1893 Chicago
A metropolitan city rivaling New York, Chicago was home to some of the greatest movers and shakers of the late 19th century: Lyman Gage, Andrew McNally, George Pullman and Charles Schwab. Chicago ranked second in the nation, with nearly 1.1 million people, many immigrants, who would ultimately work at the Fair. Chinese immigrants played a large part in the fair’s success, notably Hong Sling, the manager of the Chinese Village concession. It was located just off the midway, in perfect position to return the $90,000 investment made by Hong Sling and his Wah Mee Company.
What helped put Chicago on the map as a world player was its location on the Southern tip of Lake Michigan, where its grandest buildings were built and the World’s Fair was held. Like any metropolis, transportation was problematic. Electric streetcars, as well as the 80-mile per hour Pullman car, helped pave the way for fair visitors, alleviating some of the congestion. With all rapid-growth cities, you get urban blight, social chaos and poverty. The Columbian Exposition became the venue to beautify Chicago as a whole, through its planning and execution. The City Beautiful movement was born and the dignified Beaux-Arts style became the city’s hallmark, which set the taste for dignity and harmony for over a decade in American architecture.
The Fair
The 27 million visitors who enjoyed the fair paid $.50 per adult
ticket and $.25 per child. Because of the depression and antecedent
recessions, the fair became a haven for inventors and those wanting to
demonstrate their wares. There were attractions for technology,
culture, rides and world villages like Blarney Castle, the Japanese,
German and Chinese village and their internal concessions. There were
massive architectural wonders, like the 19-story Manufactures and
Liberal Arts Building and hundreds of private organizations
showcased—more than 5,000 exhibits. You could see everything from
the Ferris Wheel at $.50 per ride. Paying admission prices did not mean
that the midway and concessions were free. Attending the fair could be
very expensive. People traveled about using the new “moving
sidewalk” and electric cars throughout the 633 acres.
A World Gathering
Contributors attended from 36 countries and 46 U.S. states. Illinois wanted to circumvent the bad press of the depression and truly make Chicago a world-class player. People from all over the world attended, and the end of the fair earned enough revenue to return over $1 million to various investors.
Notable Mentions
Several firsts surfaced during the Columbian Exposition. Francis J. Bellamy’s Pledge of Allegiance, introduced earlier in the year, was recited for nearly 140,000 opening day visitors. Gray's Teleautograph, in essence, became the first fax machine. Fair-goers got their first tastes of mass-produced foods like Cracker Jack, Cream of Wheat, and Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit. Variety was the spice of life at the 1893 World’s Fair. It kept the world coming back for more and set Chicago as a player on the world stage.