Welcome to the Chicago World's Fair! Grab some Cracker Jack and a hot dog to snack on as we go back in time. The official name of this fair was the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Americas.
Dive into Chicago History for Kids to learn about what was to be the biggest and most ambitious world's fair at that time!
You may be familiar with the name Palmer from the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, first built for Bertha "Cissie" Honore´ Palmer as a wedding gift from her husband. Read how Cissie Palmer helped showcase the contributions of women from all over the United States at the World's Fair. Be sure to check out the cool websites in the additional resources.
Unfortunately, not everyone was able to participate actively as an organizer or attendee which Ida B. Wells-Barnett discovered. She wrote a pamphlet called, The Reason Why the Colored American Is Not in the World's Columbian Exposition. Learn more about Wells in these two great titles: Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth.
Can you imagine going to a fair without a Ferris wheel? Me neither! Take a ride down memory lane with Mr. Ferris and His Wheel and The Fantastic Ferris Wheel. Readers will feel they are back in time at the World's Fair with these two beautifully illustrated picture books.
While you may not be able to go back in time and actually experience the World's Columbian Exposition, you can visit the Field Museum where some of the original artifacts can be seen.
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