I’m off to Chicago for 24 hours and I’m super excited because I have only really seen around the airport and one small area of the city for an event. It’s going to be a whirlwind trip, but fun ( I just love traveling).

I thought in honour of my visit, I would do a blog post on the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933-1934 because I love learning about cool events like World Fair’s and of course taking a look at vintage photos.

Let the fun begin!

Note: All images are from the ‘Carli Digital Collections‘.

Chicago World’s Fair – Century of Progress 1933-1934

About the Chicago World’s Fair:

A Century of Progress International Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, was a World’s Fair held in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, from 1933 to 1934. The fair, registered under the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), celebrated the city’s centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation, and its motto was “Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Adapts”, giving out a message that science and American life were wedded. Its architectural symbol was the Sky Ride, a transporter bridge perpendicular to the shore on which one could ride from one side of the fair to the other.

One description of the fair noted that the world, “then still mired in the malaise of the Great Depression, could glimpse a happier not-too-distant future, all driven by innovation in science and technology.” Fair visitors saw the latest wonders in rail travel, automobiles, and architecture. The exposition “emphasized technology and progress, a utopia, or perfect world, founded on democracy and manufacturing” (Source).

NOTE: Chicago also held a World’s Fair in 1893, this is why the named the 1933-34 expo “A Century of Progress”.

1933 cover of a progam for the fair featurin ‘The entrance to the Firestone Factory and Exhibition Building’. Love the Art Deco illustration.

Source: julianneA_designs on Zazzle

The Exhibition Buildings (Samples):

From the beginning, the commission members shared a belief that the buildings should not reinterpret past architectural forms – as had been done at earlier fairs, such as Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition—but should instead reflect new, modern ideas, as well as suggest future architectural developments (Source).

Sears, Roebuck and Company pavilion.

Chrysler Motors building at night.

Travel and Transport Building.

U.S. Federal Building.

Agriculture building.

Electrical Group building.

U.S. Army marching band assembled in front of the Pantheon building.

The Exhibits (Samples):

General Electric exhibit showing the newest models of electric ranges, dishwashers, and water heaters.

Model Train Exhibit.

Women inspecting the rose exhibit in the Horticulture Building.

World’s largest automobile at the Studebaker exhibit.

“Eighty feet long, 39 feet high, with 12-foot wheels, this is the ‘World’s Largest Automobile.’ It has been built for the Studebaker exhibit at the World’s Fair of 1934 in Chicago. Inside is a complete motion picture theatre seating 80 people where the story of the automobile is told, especially the story of the Studebaker automobile.”

Patrons watch ice skating at the Black Forest Village exhibit.

Three women visit the Pasadena Puppeteers in the Home Planning Hall.

The Johnson Outboard Motors and Boats exhibit.

The ‘Firestone Singing Color Fountain’. SO PRETTY!

Source: julianneA_designs on Zazzle

Images of people at the fair

Miss Kathryn Dougherty, 22, of Waterloo, Iowa, became the 2,000,000th visitor to the World’s Fair when she passed through the 23rd street gate at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday (June 20th). She is shown here with Martin M. Tveter, comptroller of the Fair, who presented her with the gifts seen at the left of the picture.

Fay Wray and Edward F. Dunne (former mayor of Chicago) visit the fair.

Mrs. N.A. Ourngs, Miss Helen Dawes, Mary Pickford, Lenox R. Lohr and the Black Horse Troop in front of the Administration building, July 14, 1934.

Bicyclers from Ottawa, Canada, arrive at the fair.

“An ardent cyclist at home, Edwin Genge, 15, of Ottawa, Canada, accompanied by Olive Brushey, housekeeper in his home, set out from Ottawa for A Century of Progress on July 3rd, where they arrived today (July 20th). Traveling by bicycle, and stopping for visits along the way, the pair covered the 813 miles in nine days. Upon their arrival at the Fair, they were welcomed by Dorothy LeFold, exposition beauty finalist who was a Wilson and Co’s entry in the contest.”

Dennis O’ Shea, in glasses, pie-eating champion of the 1934 World’s Fair.

Search for the Most Irresistible smile in America.

Three generations of Cubans during a neighborly visit to the Puerto Rican exhibit n the Court of States. From left to right: J.R. Valiente, Elvira Lara Vda Valiente, and Sarita Valiente, all of Havana.

Dan Seidenberg, first cellist, up to bat in a softball game between the Chicago and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.

“Dan Seidenberg, first cellist, whose home run blast to deep center field at Grant Park shattered a deadlocked softball game between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the seventh inning today (Monday, July 23), boosted the Chicago concert masters to a sensational 18 to 17 victory today. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays twice daily at Swift bandshell at the World’s Fair while the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is filling a long engagement at Ford Gardens, also at the great exhibition. The games was to determine the softball championship between these two outstanding musical organizations.”

Woman picks up her lost purse.

“Miss Evelyn Ronnestad of Minneapolis, Minn., was overjoyed today (Tuesday) when her purse, containing $25 of oil and gas money for the trip home for her and her party, was found and returned after being lost in the Sears building of A Century of Progress. The purse, which was missing for several hours, was found by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Maxwell of Titusville, Pa. The picture shows Miss Ronnestad (left) receiving her purse back from Miss Florence E. Johnson of the Sears information desk.”

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as our happy group of visitors after their first day, from York and York County Pennsylvania, did.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy & Zazzle are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Question time: Have you been to Chicago before? Or live in the city? What are some of the things you love about the city. Share anything you wish about this city or this blog post in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

• Vintage Photo Tuesday: Royal Agriculture Winter Fair
• Chicago World’s Fair – Century of Progress 1933-1934
• A look inside Brussels World Fair-1958
• Step Back in Time with The Canadian National Exhibition
• Exhibits & Displays Seen At The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) From The 1920s-1960s
• Vintage Canada: The Bill Lynch Travelling Carnival Show

Vintage Travel:

Would you like to see the where the Chicago World’s Fair was held or see all the amazing Art Deco Buildings of the city? Viator is a tour company I have used on several of my trips and they have lots of tour options for Chicago. Take a look below!

Note: Viator is an Affiliate Link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you!

Thanks for dropping by!

P.S. I might do a second part as there was so many photos that it was hard to chose what to share in this post.

Liz