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Century of Progress Pages
The fair's theme, as given in A Century of Progress Chicago International Exposition of 1933 Statement of its Plan and Purposes and of the Relation of States and Foreign Governments to Them (Chicago, 1933). was to "attempt to demonstrate to an international audience the nature and significance of scientific discoveries, the methods of achieving them, and the changes which their application has wrought in industry and in living conditions." Events and exhibits were designed to appeal to the general public and demonstrate how science promised mankind a bright future. Displays often featured miniaturized or replicated processes of what technology had brought into our lives today or what the promises of the future would hold. The fair emphasized the positives -- something America needed at the time. For example, check out this photo of "Living Babies in Incubators"
The fair was held just south of downtown on 427 acres of land along Lake Michigan, much of it landfill. The site today holds Meigs Field and McCormick Place A Century of Progress on May 27, 1933 and closed on November 12 of that year. Perhaps mainly to generate enough income to pay back the money that was borrowed to create this world-class fair, the celebration was extended for another year, reopening on May 26, 1934, and closing on October 31, 1934. Undoubtedly, the fair was extremely popular and the extension gave more people a chance to see and participate in this great event.
Century of Progress PagesSource: http://www.chicagohs.org |
The centennial
anniversary of the incorporation of Chicago was an important event -- the
"City of Broad Shoulders had been the nation's railroad hub since the
dawn of westward expansion by rail. A Century of Progress
International Exposition was held in 1933 -- it proved so popular and
economically successful, it was held-over for a second year.
Considering the nation was in a "great-depression" a remarkable
achievement. 
