Overview of the Exhibition
Origins of the World's Columbian Exposition can be seen in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia event marked the first large-scale effort of this kind in the United States. As early as 1880, advocates argues that a special exposition should mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus sailing to the New World. By 1888, the movement gained enough momentum to begin being taken seriously by the public, and by government officials. Early on, St. Louis was a leader for the site location. By 1889, public opinion and individual efforts had mobilized enough support to launch the new exposition. Contenders for the massive exposition site included St. Louis, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D. C. In an effort to woo the U. S. Congress to select their city, Chicago businesses raised $5,000,000 to pledge to the fair, and promised to double the amount if Chicago was selected. After eight ballots, Congress finally selected Chicago as the site, by a vote of 157 for Chicago, 107 for New York, 25 for St. Louis, and 18 for Washington, D. C. The fair was considered the greatest event of its kind in history.
Chicago in 1893
Transportation time to Chicago
City Statistical Information
Chicago was divided into three divisions "sides": North, West, and South. Additional townships include Hyde Park, Lake View, Cicero, and Jefferson. According to the school census of 1892, the population of the South Division was 515,736 , and of the West Division 645,428, and of the North Division 278,846. Total resident population in 1893 was about 1,550,000. One third of the population was of foreign birth, more Germans and Irish, the Scandinavians, Poles, and Central Europeans. The local economy was booming. Chicago was a major port and transportation hub. Population was up 400% from 1870-1890 and the economy grew even faster. Dominant industries like grain trade and meat packing boomed, with the meat packing industry increasing 900% the same period. The new wealth brought Chicago great development in the arts, literature, music, and other fine arts. Due to the fair, beer consumption nearly doubled, to 2.7 million barrels in 1893. And, Chicago faced urban problems typical of a fast-growing city, including overcrowded schools, hundreds of bordellos, and high street crime. As an indicator of municipal transportation modes and rates, a two horse "hack" cab could be ridden one-way for $1 for under 1 mile and $2 for 2 passengers under 2 miles. A full day's rental of a coach ran $8 or $2 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour. By city ordinance passed in 1892, one-animal conveyance rates were capped at 50 cents per mile for 1-2 passengers and 25 additional cents per mile per additional passenger.
City Government
In the Chicago of 1893, the Mayor was elected to a 2-year term and received a salary of $7,000. The city council was composed of 68 aldermen, two each from the 34 wards. One alderman is elected from each ward in alternate years.
City Architecture
Chicago was gutted by a great fire in 1871 that destroyed over 2,000 acres of the built environment and caused a loss of over $196 million (in 1871 dollars). Largely rebuilt after the fire, Chicago exhibit several distinctive architectural characteristics. Large buildings were constructed to be fireproof, with steel and brick construction. The "Chicago" style developed here with the works of such prominent architects as Louis H. Sullivan, John W. Root, and W. L. B. Janney. The Chicago style was the first manifestation of the skyscraper, whose steel frame construction allowed for taller buildings. The Chicago style was less ornate than the then-current Victorian style, and was much more functional in nature, primarily due to the commercial nature of the buildings.
Admission and Transportation Prices and Statistics
Admission Prices
General Admission: Adults: 50 cents
Children 6-12: 25 cents
Children under 6: Free
Admission Statistics
Tickets Sold: approx 21.5 million
Free Admissions: approx. 6 million
Total Attendance: approx. 27.5 million
Additional: Free passes were initially available for those who came to visit the site to watch construction in progress. The crowds eventually ran up to 5,000 people a day, so admission was charged to be on the site to watch construction, first 25 cents, then to 50 cents.
Dedication Day was October 26, 1892. Vice President Levi Morton dedicated the site. The fair was officially opened May 1, 1893 by President Grover Cleveland.
Largest single day attendance: October 9, 1893 (Chicago Day), over 700,000 in attendance.
Private cameras were allowed admittance to the site, for only $2 a day.
Admission to Midway Plaisance Attractions
Transportation Prices
Electric Boats-plied lagoons, basin, and North Pond - 1 hour, 50 cents.
Gondolas-replicas of Venetian gondolas - round trip, 50 cents.
Steamship-route from South Pond through South Inlet into Lake Michigan, then into Middle Basin and through North Inlet to landing near Fisheries Building- round trip, 25 cents.
Intramural Railway-. Trains traveled between stations at 12 miles per hour on loops around exhibition site. One complete trip took 20 minutes. Fare any distance: 10 cents.
Rolling Chairs- Chair with guide, 75 cents per hour or $6 per day. Chair without guide, 40 cents per hour or $3.50 per day.
Sedan Chairs-handled by natives of a Turkish village. Cost: 75 cents per hour, 40 cents per half hour, or 25 cents per quarter hour.
Moveable Sidewalk-from steamship landing to peristyle, 5 cents.
Exposition Legislation
A bill to authorize the exposition was introduced by Sen. Daniel of Virginia in March 1890. The bill was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison on April 25, 1890. The act was entitled An act to provide for celebrating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, and sea, in the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois. The act provided for the establishment of the World's Columbian Commission. It stated that dedication of the buildings should take place with appropriate ceremonies on Oct. 12, 1892, and that the exposition itself should not open later than May 1, 1893 and close not later than October 26, 1893. Provision was made for a U. S. government exhibition building, with a cost to not exceed $400,000. The entire sum for which the U. S. would be liable could not exceed $1,500,000. A section of the act called for a naval review in New York harbor in 1893 and invited foreign nations to send warships to join the U. S. Navy at Hampton Roads, Virginia.
The Invitation to the World
The WCC quickly laid the groundwork for the exposition and formally notified the President of the United States that all of the preliminary requirements of the Congressional act had been fulfilled. He then issued a proclamation of invitation to all nations. This proclamation was accompanied by a letter from the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury detailing regulations and insrtuctions for foriegn exhibitors, as well as a prospectus for the World's Congress Auxilliary. The exposition was promoted by the Department of Publicity and Promotion of the Exposition. For two years before opening day, the Department sent out 2,000 to 3,000 mail packages per day. Circulars, pamphlets, and books were distributed in all majors languages. Nearly every rail station in Europe featured a flier showing a view of the exposition. An unprecedented level of mass mailing and press releases built the anticipation level so high only a fair of such magnitude could avoid disappointment. The excitement level was such that there was not sufficient space on the site, even on a site with more than 5 million square feet of exhibition space, for the size and scope of the plans of all of the participating nations. The exhibition truly marked the first World's fair, as it was the first opportunity for all nations to exhibit their resources and goods on neutral ground.
Exhibiting Nations: Argentina, Austria*, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada*, China*, Colombia*, Costa Rica*, Denmark, Danish West Indies, Ecuador*, France*, Germany*, Great Britain*, Greece, Barbados, British Guiana, British Honduras, Cape Colony (South Africa), Ceylon*, India, Italy*, Jamaica, Leeward Islands (Caribbean islands), New South Wales (Australia), New Zealand, Trinidad, Greece, Guatemala*, Haiti*, Hawaii (still an independent nation in 1893), Japan*, Liberia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Dutch Guiana (Suriname), Dutch West Indies, Nicaragua*, Norway*, Orange Free State (South Africa), Paraguay, Peru, Russia*, Salvador (El Salvador), San Domingo (Dominican Republic), Spain, Cuba, Sweden*, Turkey*, and Uruguay.
Countries with their own buildings are marked with an asterisk (*)
Square footage of major exhibiting nations' buildings:
Contributing Nations. The governments of these counties received concessions for theaters, shops, and representations of native life: Algeria, Austria, China, India, Dahomey, Ehypt, Hungary, Pacific Islands, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Persia (Iran), Hawaii (also called Sandwich Islands), and Tunis.
Bruce R. Schulman