The Century of Progress featured an outdoor pageant that celebrated "America's hundred-year march from a small pioneer nation to a leader in world affairs."  Staged outdoors, the story unfolded on a humungous stage, 175 feet long and 170 feet deep, that was divided into three sections.

On the front was a level road with railroad tracks that were sunken to allow trains and land vehicles to cross.  Behind this was the main performance area for people, animals, and small vehicles.  The rear part was a boat runway with a backdrop of the lake -- boats were moved on trucks against the lake as a backdrop.  The pageant closed with a scene about a trip to mars.

Wagon trains, horses, early to modern rail travel, boats, and a model of the Wright Brother's plane were all featured.  In 1934, The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy staged an incredible public relations stunt.  The "Dawn to Dusk Zephyr" on May 26,1934, featuring the Pioneer Zephyr, a new lightweight streamline passenger train, left Denver at sun rise, raced non-stop to Chicago, took the St. Charles Air Line to the Illinois Central on the lakefront, and rolled across the stage that evening in the grand finale of the "Wings of A Century" pageant. The timing was perfect. Throngs lined both sides of the tracks throughout the transcontinental route as the Zephyr raced to the exposition grounds.  Here are 2 scenes from the show:

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