It commemorated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492. Located in Jackson Park, the fair’s focal point was a grand water basin symbolizing Columbus’s historic voyage. The exposition was an influential social and cultural event and had a profound effect on American architecture, the arts, American industrial optimism, and Chicago’s image. The layout of the Chicago Columbian Exposition was masterfully crafted by notable figures such as John Wellborn Root, Daniel Burnham, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Charles B. Atwood. This exposition served as a prototype for Burnham and his colleagues’ vision of an ideal city, embracing the Beaux-Arts principles of design, which emphasized neoclassical architecture, symmetry, balance, and grandeur. The buildings were primarily covered in white staff, a material that gave the fairgrounds its famous nickname, the “White City.” Fourteen major structures were designed by prominent architects, while artists and musicians were prominently featured in various exhibits, with many creating works of art inspired by the event. The exposition spanned 690 acres (2.8 km²) and showcased nearly 200 newly constructed, though temporary, buildings that primarily reflected neoclassical architecture. The fairgrounds also included intricate canals, lagoons, and representations of people and cultures from 46 different countries. During its six-month duration, the exposition attracted over 27 million visitors. Its immense scale and breathtaking grandeur surpassed previous world’s fairs, establishing it as a symbol of America’s rising prominence on the global stage. Forty-six countries were represented with pavilions at the exposition. Among them, Norway made a unique contribution by sending the Viking, a replica of the historic Gokstad ship. Constructed in Norway, the Viking was sailed across the Atlantic by a crew of 12, led by Captain Magnus Andersen. In 1919, the ship was relocated to Lincoln Park, and in 1996, it was moved to Good Templar Park in Geneva, Illinois, where it currently awaits restoration. In addition to international representation, thirty-four U.S. states also had their own pavilions at the fair. These pavilions were designed to reflect the unique architectural styles of each state. Notably, the work of feminist author Kate McPhelim Cleary was highlighted during the opening of the Nebraska Day ceremonies, where her poem “Nebraska” was recited. Some of the prominent state buildings at the fair included those from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. A massive Romanesque structure, known as the “Greatest Refrigerator on Earth,” was an important part of the exposition, storing thousands of pounds of food and featuring an ice-skating rink for visitors. Designed by architect Franklin P. Burnham, the structure was a demostration of the newly developed technology of artificial freezing. It spanned a floor space of 130 by 255 feet and stood nearly 200 feet tall. Tragically, on the evening of July 10, 1893, the “Greatest Refrigerator on Earth” caught fire. As two firefighters bravely entered the building, one sliding down a rope and the other descending on a hose line, both became trapped in the inferno. The fire claimed the lives of fifteen people—twelve firefighters and three civilians—before the eyes of over a thousand onlookers. The only artifact to survive the blaze was a twelve-foot copper statue of Christopher Columbus, which was preserved as a memorial to the fallen and is now housed at the Chicago Fire Museum. (Photo credit: RHP / Chicago Tribune / Wikimedia Commons). Notify me of new posts by email.
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