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Introduction to World's Fairs
This timeline focuses on world's fairs from 1850-1915 in the United States, and showcases their importance in uniting the country. These fairs had different cultural aspects and brought together many nations from across the globe. They were significant in their influence of modern architecture, technology, urban planning, and the country’s global position for years to come. These fairs established the United States as an imperial power, creating a sense of national pride and patriotism. -
Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York
This fair was open from July 14th, 1853 to November 1st, 1854 with 1.2 million participants from 17 nations. It was inspired by the London 1851 Fair, but there were many unique components. For example, it was the first to incorporate a picture gallery and buildings were inspired by Moorish Architecture. This fair, however influential, might not be considered a success as it was supposed to open on May 1, 1852, in Madison Square Garden, but these plans were altered due to financial constraints. -
Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition was open from May 10 to November 10, 1876 and the total attendance included 9,910,966 individuals. This fair was significant because it showed the recovery of the US after the Civil War and contained exhibits such as the Corliss Engine, telephone, and phonograph. It was the 100th Anniversary of the country’s founding, and this event brought the US together for a national event. This fair did not do well financially as financing was difficult. -
World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago
This fair was open from May 1 to October 30, 1893 with a total of 21,480,140 attendees. 50 nations and 26 colonies participated in the fair. The Chicago World Fair was considered one of the most lavish and majestic fairs ever created. The fair advanced technology, manufacturing and urban planning, and its architectural style extended to many government buildings for centuries. The fair reflected progressive ideals of assimilation to American culture and the desire for commercial leisure. -
Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta
The Atlanta World's Fair, or the Cotton States and International Exposition, took place from September 18 to December 31, 1895. 1,170,933 people attended and 18 nations and colonies were represented. Atlanta undertook this fair to elevate the city, state, and region as contributors to commerce, industry, and the arts. The highlight of the fair was Booker T. Washington's address on opening day which praised the fair's new Negro Building, and emphasized African American contributions to the South. -
Pan American International Exposition in Buffalo
This fair first opened on May 1, 1901 and remained open six days a week, until November 2. The fair was named the Rainbow City, and featured architecture inspired by the Spanish Renaissance. One of the more interesting buildings was the 375 ft high Electric Tower that utilized the hydroelectric power from Niagara falls. However, the Ethnology Building was the most popular with 75% of all 8 million attendees visiting. This fair was not a financial success with total losses of $3 million. -
Assassination at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo
The Buffalo exposition’s original goal was to foster relations and trade with Pan-American countries. However, the event ended up being overshadowed by the “demise of American President William McKinley at the hands of a patron.” McKinley came on President's Day, September 5th, to give a speech, but when he came back unannounced the next day and was mingling with the public, he was unexpectedly shot and died a week later. -
South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition
The South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition occurred on December 2, 1901 to May 31, 1902 and had a total of 674,086 visitors. This fair took place on 184 acre grounds of Lowndes, the former plantation of the fair president. This fair was small, as only 4 nations and 20 states participated, and its purpose was to improve Charleston's status relative to southern cities. The fair did not meet public expectations of the public due to weather conditions and unfinished buildings. -
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis
The St. Louis World’s Fair was open from April 30 to December 1, 1904 on the grounds of Forest Park. In total, there were 19,645,855 total attendees with participants from 43 nations and 19 colonies. The fair was an overall success, celebrating and commemorating the one-hundred-year anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. This fair included ornate palaces, and the amusement on the Pike included a Ferris wheel, huge fountains, and transportation by railroad or boat. -
Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco
This fair was open from February 20 to December 4 and celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, along with the rebirth of the city. 18.8 million people from 35 nations attended, and the fair's success helped San Francisco to recover from the devastating 1906 earthquake. There were eight main buildings on the reclaimed land of San Francisco Bay, however, the most popular was the Tower of Jewels which was 433 feet tall and completely covered in glass jewels from Austria. -
Concluding Statement
The events featured in this timeline represent the Golden Age of the World’s Fair, which extended from the mid-19th century to World War I. After the war, new commercial media such as film and radio overshadowed world’s fairs as popular entertainment, while advances in transportation technology enabled curious Americans to travel to far-flung places rather than witnessing their approximation in exhibits at the world’s fair. -
Works Cited
Arcgis.com,
\https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=96f4f6b6a8284f1d980bdfffba128b6a.
“United States World's Fairs.” History Index of United States World's Fairs from America's Best
History, https://americasbesthistory.com/usworldsfairs.html.