World's FairS

Three huge World's Fairs took place in the United States in the fifty years after the Civil War: 1876 (Centennial in Philadelphia), 1893 (400th Columbian Exposition in Chicago), and 1904 (Lewis & Clark Centennial in St. Louis).

These Fairs served as great venues to roll out all sorts of new products. Inventions and other new technologies were primary (telephone, lightbulbs, zippers, spray paint, etc.)  The Statue of Liberty, Kudzu, and the Pledge to the Flag also made their debuts at the World's Fairs.

For our experience, we will present the history of the foods that were introduced at the World's Fairs. Each student will be assigned to research and present one of the following:

Animal crackers (Walter G. Wilson & Co.) 1876 Philadelphia

Bananas (Lorenzo Baker) 1876 Philadelphia

Chocolate Bar (Hershey/Lehmann) 1893 Chicago

Juicy Fruit Gum (Wrigley) 1993 Chicago

Cracker Jack  (Rueckheim) 1893 Chicago

Brownie (Bertha Palmer) 1893 Chicago

Iced tea (Blechynden) 1904 St. Louis

Cotton candy (Wm Morrison) 1904 St. Louis

Ice cream cone (Hamwi) 1904 St. Louis

Dr. Pepper (Lazenby) 1904 St. Louis

Jello (Woodward) 1904 St. Louis