The White City

“The fair was so perfect, its grace and beauty like an assurance that for as long as it lasted nothing truly bad could happen to anyone, anywhere” (289). 


The Book   

One of my favorite books is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Larson weaves together the stories of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (known as the White City) and H. H. Holmes (“the devil”). The book is split into four parts: background leading up to the construction for the exposition, construction of the exposition, the exposition, and the discovery of Holmes’ crimes. Holmes was a serial killer operating before, during, and after the fair. But, for the purpose of this blog I will focus on the fair.

Larson helps the reader imagine a time when the impossible seemed possible. Originally, the exposition was meant to open in October 1892, to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of Columbus discovering America. Delays caused the exposition to open in May 1893. The most incredible thing about this was that the location of the exposition was picked in February 1890. Larson explores the many issues the exposition and its director, Daniel Burnham, faced-economic crisis, rise of unions, weather, lack of time, and Chicago’s bad reputation. The reader comes away in awe of the magnitude of the undertaking and that it was a success.

The exposition helped put Chicago on the world map and introduced many new things to the world. The 27.5 million visitors (over six months) were exposed to electricity, moving pictures, Shredded Wheat, and other cultures. An engineer named George Washington Ferris designed the first Ferris Wheel for the exposition. 

The Place   

This past Saturday, my mom and I took a walking tour through the Chicago Architecture Foundation: White City Revisited. The tour is two hours and takes you through Jackson Park, the site of the exposition. The only building still standing from the exposition is the Museum of Science and Industry, which housed the art exhibits during the exposition.

The only other aspect left is the Wooded Islandin the middle of the park. A replica of the Statue of the Republic stands in the middle of an intersection and a bird and butterfly sanctuary occupy much of the Manufacturer’s and Liberal Arts building (a 32 acre building). The tour guide shows pictures to the group of the different buildings, points out their locations in the park, and mentions facts about the buildings and exposition.

Although many of the buildings are no longer standing, it is easy to imagine what the exposition would have looked like. The exposition was nicknamed the White City because all the buildings were painted white and reflected the sun as it moved throughout the day. It is said that exposition visitors were overwhelmed by the sheer size of the buildings and in certain areas many walked around quietly out of a sense of reverence. Jackson Park is a part of the Chicago Park District and visitors can walk the grounds without a tour guide.