What was the story behind the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and why was it so significant?

In 1893, Chicago transformed into a dazzling beacon of innovation and architectural brilliance with the World’s Columbian Exposition, often called the Chicago World's Fair. This grand event celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas and showcased the United States’ emergence as a global powerhouse. Over 27 million people visited the fair—a staggering number for its time. The exposition spanned over 600 acres in Jackson Park and introduced the world to marvels like the first-ever Ferris wheel, towering 264 feet, and capable of holding over 2,000 people at once.

Nicknamed the "White City" for its gleaming, neoclassical buildings lit by electric lights (still a novelty then), the fair wasn’t just about architecture—it was a cultural milestone. Products that became household staples, like Cracker Jack and Juicy Fruit gum, debuted here. Nikola Tesla’s alternating current (AC) power system powered the fairgrounds, cementing his victory over Edison’s direct current (DC) in the "War of Currents."

Yet, amid the grandeur, darker tales lurked. The infamous serial killer H.H. Holmes used the fair’s crowds as cover to commit heinous crimes in his so-called "Murder Castle," a macabre footnote to an otherwise brilliant display of progress. The Columbian Exposition encapsulated the tension of the Gilded Age—dazzling innovation contrasted with the shadowy underbelly of rapid industrialization. It wasn’t just an exposition; it was America showing the world—and itself—what it was capable of, for better or worse.