Chicago in 1893: Selected Maps of the World’s Columbian Exposition

Starting in the 18th century, international exhibitions have taken place in countries throughout the world. In 1893, the Chicago World’s Fair, known as the World’s Columbian Exposition, commemorated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage to the Americas. The Library of Congress holds numerous maps related to the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893; these include maps of the planning stage, indexed guide maps, souvenir maps, panoramic views, and building plans. I have included a few examples in this post.

In 1888, federal appropriations were sought to fund the exposition. The initial phase involved selecting a location. Several major cities competed to host the World’s Fair; Washington DC, New York, and Chicago emerged as the main contenders. Representatives from the three cities delivered presentations to designated committees in both the House and the Senate. Chicago was selected because of its numerous parks and Lake Michigan waterfront. President Benjamin Harrison approved the location in April 1890.

The landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted was chosen by the Exposition Corporation to choose a site in Chicago and plan the layout of the fair. Olmsted chose Jackson Park. The park was situated on undeveloped land, making it an ideal location for the World’s Fair. Below is a map showing proposed improvements for the plan. It was published two years before the exposition opened.

The main exhibit structures were known as the “Great Buildings.” These included fourteen exhibit halls. The Great Buildings were constructed with a mixture of plaster of Paris and cement known as “staff.” The area was nicknamed the “White City” due to the white exteriors of the buildings. Most of the structures at the World’s Columbian Exposition were not built to last, only a few are still standing.

In addition to the Great Buildings, buildings were constructed for every state. Exhibitions representing approximately 100 countries were included at the fair.  The Midway, officially named the Midway Plaisance, showcased a variety of international exhibits, and the world’s first Ferris Wheel. Below is an indexed guide map for tourists.

Included among the Great Buildings was a structure known as the “Woman’s Building.” A nationwide competition was held for women only. The purpose of the competition was to find a female architect or architectural student to design the building. The winner was twenty-one-year-old Sophia Hayden, an architectural graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The building contained exhibits that highlighted the accomplishments of women globally in the fields of literature, art, science, and industry. An illustration of the Woman’s Building and plans of the first and second floors are shown below.

Featured below are floor plans of another Great Building, the Manufacturers and Liberal Arts Building. The building showcased global achievements in science, industry and the arts. The building was designed by the architect George Post. The structure covered thirty-two acres; it was the largest building in the world during that period.

The red stars on the next map show the locations of one or more Remington typewriters that were used during the fair. Approximately 370 Remington typewriters were in use at the exposition.

The panoramic view shown above is an example of one of the souvenir maps created for the exposition. The map, printed on linen, was designed to be worn as a bandana.

The “Columbus Genealogical Tree” is featured below. A portrait of Columbus and illustrations of American and foreign government officials are shown above a panoramic view of the fair.

In addition to the maps featured in this post, numerous other collectables from the fair still exist today. Please refer to the following sources to learn more about the World’s Columbian Exposition.

Discover More:

• Learn more about Frederick Law Olmsted in this Worlds Revealed post by Carissa Pastuch Chicago’s South Park by Frederick Law Olmsted.
• Read a detailed history about the fair in The World’s Columbian Exposition : the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 by Norman Bolotin & Christine Laing.
• Links to selected articles from historic newspapers are provided in Chicago World’s Fair: Topics in Chronicling America.