1893 Chicago's World Fair / World's Columbian Exposition

The World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago from May 1 to October 30, 1893, was organized to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. The fair was constructed on a 633-acre site known as Jackson Park and featured neoclassical architecture designed by prominent architects such as Daniel Burnham and Frederick Law Olmsted.

The construction involved extensive use of materials like steel, concrete, and plaster, with the iconic “White City” aesthetic achieved through the use of white stucco applied over a wooden frame. The total cost of the fair was approximately $28 million (equivalent to around $900 million today).

Electricity at the fair was provided by George Westinghouse using Nikola Tesla’s alternating current (AC) system, after winning the contract over Thomas Edison’s direct current (DC) proposal. Westinghouse installed 12 large AC generators powered by steam engines at a power station built specifically for the exposition. These generators lit over 100,000 incandescent lamps and powered various motors and displays.

After the exposition closed, many of the temporary structures were demolished. However, some materials were repurposed for other projects. Notably, the Palace of Fine Arts was preserved and eventually transformed into what is now the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

A significant fire occurred on July 10, 1893, destroying several buildings, though some important structures survived. Today, a few remnants of the exposition remain, including parts of the original grounds, fountains, sculptures, and buildings like the Museum of Science and Industry.

Photograph Collections:

Construction Photos:

Construction Archives at AIC

Miscellaneous Resources:

Documents from Before the Fair:

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