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Chicago World Fair Collection

Step back in time to the grandeur of the Chicago World Fair, a monumental event that captivated the world in 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: The Upper basin, Obelisk, Machinery Hall and MacMonnies Fountain, Chicago 1893, Columbian Exhibition

The Upper basin, Obelisk, Machinery Hall and MacMonnies Fountain, Chicago 1893, Columbian Exhibition
NWI4759766 The Upper basin, Obelisk, Machinery Hall and MacMonnies Fountain, Chicago 1893, Columbian Exhibition.; (add.info.: The Upper basin, Obelisk, Machinery Hall and MacMonnies Fountain)

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Midway, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

Midway, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, Chicago Midway, 1893. Photograph shows trained animals lined up, with trainers, clowns and others, the Midway, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Transportation Building, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892

Transportation Building, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1892- Transportation Building, 1892

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: The Proposed Monument in Memory of Christopher Columbus to be Erected at the Chicago Exhibition of

The Proposed Monument in Memory of Christopher Columbus to be Erected at the Chicago Exhibition of Creator: Unknown
The Proposed Monument in Memory of Christopher Columbus to be Erected at the Chicago Exhibition of 1892, to celebrate the Forth Centenary of the Discovery of America, 1890. From "The Graphic

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: World's Fair, Chicago, 1892: Frame for Mines Building, 1892. Creator: Unknown

World's Fair, Chicago, 1892: Frame for Mines Building, 1892. Creator: Unknown
World's Fair, Chicago, 1892: Frame for Mines Building, 1892

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Exhibit in art gallery, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Unknown

Exhibit in art gallery, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Unknown
Exhibit in art gallery, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Exhibit in art gallery, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Unknown

Exhibit in art gallery, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Unknown
Exhibit in art gallery, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
World's Columbian Exposition, 1893. Photograph shows fountains and the Grand Basin with exhibition buildings at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
World's Columbian Exposition 1893. Photograph shows the the art gallery with two levels at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Ill. Chicago -- Columbian Expo. 1892. Photograph shows the Administration Building and the Mining Building at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Ill. Chicago -- Columbian Expo. 1892. Photograph shows the Administration Building (right) and the Grand Basin at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Ill. Chicago -- Columbian Expo. 1892. Photograph shows the south entrance of the Art Palace, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. Title transcribed from item

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Bird's-eye view of exposition grounds, with canal in foreground, World's Columbian Expo... 1893

Bird's-eye view of exposition grounds, with canal in foreground, World's Columbian Expo... 1893
Bird's-eye view of exposition grounds, with canal in foreground, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. (Palace of Mechanic Arts and lagoon)

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Palace of Mechanic Arts and lagoon at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892

Palace of Mechanic Arts and lagoon at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892, printed later. (Replica of an ancient Egyptian obelisk at left)

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. A bird's-eye view, with monument and canal in foreground. (Palace of Mechanic Arts and replica of an ancient Egyptian obelisk)

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Exposition grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

Exposition grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Exposition grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Exposition grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston

Exposition grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Exposition grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Crowds at the exhibition

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Four boys posed at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1891 or 1892

Four boys posed at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1891 or 1892. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Four boys posed at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1891 or 1892. (One of them is holidng a poster reading Quaker Oats')

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Interior of the Woman's Building at the World's Columbian Exposition, under construction

Interior of the Woman's Building at the World's Columbian Exposition, under construction, 1891 or 1892. (Designed and built for the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893)

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Asian(?) baby seated holding spoon or ladle, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill

Asian(?) baby seated holding spoon or ladle, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1891 or 1892

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Exterior of Woman's Building, while under construction, at World's Fair, Chicago, Illinois, 1892

Exterior of Woman's Building, while under construction, at World's Fair, Chicago, Illinois, 1892

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Javanese(?) woman sitting in room working with textiles at exhibit featuring foreign... 1892

Javanese(?) woman sitting in room working with textiles at exhibit featuring foreign... 1892
Javanese(?) woman sitting in room working with textiles at exhibit featuring foreign participants at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Two cock-fighters and referee at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892 or 1893

Two cock-fighters and referee at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892 or 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Transportation exhibit building with canal boat and ducks on canal(?) in foreground... 1893

Transportation exhibit building with canal boat and ducks on canal(?) in foreground... 1893
Transportation exhibit building with canal boat and ducks on canal(?) in foreground at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Sketch in the Midway Plaisance, 1893. Creator: Philip William May

Sketch in the Midway Plaisance, 1893. Creator: Philip William May
Sketch in the Midway Plaisance, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Chicago Pitcher, England, 1893. Creator: W. T. Copeland & Sons

Chicago Pitcher, England, 1893. Creator: W. T. Copeland & Sons
Chicago Pitcher, England, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Worlds Columbian Exposition Commemorative Medal, 1892 / 93

Worlds Columbian Exposition Commemorative Medal, 1892 / 93
Worlds Columbian Exposition Commemorative Medal, 1892/93

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Worlds Columbian Exposition Commemorative Presentation Medal, 1892 / 94

Worlds Columbian Exposition Commemorative Presentation Medal, 1892 / 94
Worlds Columbian Exposition Commemorative Presentation Medal, 1892/94

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Worlds Colombian Exposition 60th Street Entrance, Chicago, Illinois, Plan and Elevation

Worlds Colombian Exposition 60th Street Entrance, Chicago, Illinois, Plan and Elevation, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Worlds Colombian Exposition 64th Street Entrance, Chicago, Illinois, Plan and Elevation

Worlds Colombian Exposition 64th Street Entrance, Chicago, Illinois, Plan and Elevation, 1892

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Worlds Colombian Exposition Chocolate-Menier Pavilion, Chicago, Plan, Elevation

Worlds Colombian Exposition Chocolate-Menier Pavilion, Chicago, Plan, Elevation
Worlds Colombian Exposition Chocolate-Menier Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, Plan, Elevation, and Section, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Worlds Columbian Exposition Fine Arts Museum, Chicago, Illinois, Perspective, c

Worlds Columbian Exposition Fine Arts Museum, Chicago, Illinois, Perspective, c. 1890-1891

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Chocolate-Menier Pavilion, Worlds Colombian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois

Chocolate-Menier Pavilion, Worlds Colombian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, Section Sketch, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Chocolate-Menier Pavilion, Worlds Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois

Chocolate-Menier Pavilion, Worlds Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, Perspective View, 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: The Womans Building, Chicago World Fair (engraving)

The Womans Building, Chicago World Fair (engraving)
3101650 The Womans Building, Chicago World Fair (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Womans Building, Chicago World Fair)

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: A pavilion, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892-93

A pavilion, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892-93. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill.: a pavilion, 1892-93

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Long boat on Venetian canal, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892-93

Long boat on Venetian canal, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1892-93
World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill.: Long boat on Venetian canal, 1892-93

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Palace of Mechanic Arts, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893

Palace of Mechanic Arts, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Palace of Mechanic Arts, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill. 1893

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Javanese Gamelan Orchestra and Topeng masked dancers, World's Columbian Expo... Chicago, 1891-1892

Javanese Gamelan Orchestra and Topeng masked dancers, World's Columbian Expo... Chicago, 1891-1892
Javanese Gamelan Orchestra and Topeng masked dancers, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1891-1892

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: na

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Poster for Chicago World Fair, 1933. Celebrating a century of progress. After a work by Glen C. Sheffer

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Chicago World Fair searchlight, 1893

Chicago World Fair searchlight, 1893
Chicago World Fair searchlight, 19th-century artwork. The World Fair of 1893 in Chicago, also known as the Worlds Columbian Exposition, took place from May to October of that year

Background imageChicago World Fair Collection: Chicago World Fair ferris wheel, 1893

Chicago World Fair ferris wheel, 1893
Chicago World Fair ferris wheel, 19th-century artwork. The World Fair of 1893 in Chicago, also known as the Worlds Columbian Exposition, took place from May to October of that year


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Step back in time to the grandeur of the Chicago World Fair, a monumental event that captivated the world in 1893. This historic sketch by Philip William May takes us on a journey through the Midway Plaisance, where visitors were enchanted by thrilling attractions and cultural exhibits. The fair showcased not only American ingenuity but also international craftsmanship, as seen in this exquisite Chicago Pitcher from England's W. T. Copeland & Sons. It was just one of many treasures displayed at the fair, commemorating an era of innovation and progress. Speaking of commemoration, these stunning Worlds Columbian Exposition medals serve as timeless reminders of this momentous occasion. Crafted with intricate detail and artistry, they symbolize the pride and excitement felt by all who attended or participated in this global celebration. As we explore further into the fairgrounds, we come across architectural marvels like the 60th Street Entrance and 64th Street Entrance. These meticulously designed structures welcomed guests from near and far to experience a world unlike anything they had ever known. Amongst these magnificent buildings stood the Chocolate-Menier Pavilion – a sweet haven for chocolate enthusiasts. Its plan and elevation reveal its grandeur while tempting visitors with delectable treats from around the globe. Art lovers flocked to admire masterpieces housed within The Fine Arts Museum at Worlds Columbian Exposition. This perspective drawing transports us back to that era when creativity flourished amidst breathtaking displays of talent. Meanwhile, The Woman's Building stands proud as a testament to women's achievements during this progressive time period. Engraved forever in history is their contribution towards shaping society's perception of gender roles. The Chicago World Fair remains etched in our collective memory as an extraordinary event that united nations under one roof. From captivating sketches to awe-inspiring architecture, it continues to inspire generations with its legacy of innovation and cultural exchange.