What Really Happened at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893?

The world we know it today is overtly connected in almost every facet whether it is through culture, media, technology or art. Throughout the majority of human history, this was not the case, however, and this global interconnection was only made possible through advanced forms of travel and communication. One cultural marker that points to the transition from global isolation to inclusion is the World Fairs which are also called World Expositions where people from all around the world come and both present and admire scientific, cultural or artistic creations from their peers. There have been several impactful iterations of the World Fair throughout history, but one edition, in particular, was the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. For both the city of Chicago and the entire world, the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition left a lasting impact in ways both big and small. For a city that was rebuilding itself after a devastating fire, the Exposition proved as a shining example of Chicago's resilience. From the Ferris Wheel to Chicago-style hotdogs, Woodrow Wilson to electricity, this edition of the World Fair often served as a first exposure to things that would become household names for many. Originally held to commemorate the near 400-year anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago now serves as a marker within American history itself, signaling the height of the Industrial Revolution and more explicitly, a foreshadowing for the passing of the torch from Europe to America in terms of geopolitical and culture power, which was hastily approaching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices