1893 Chicago facts
While investigating facts about 1893 Chicago, I found out little known, but curios details like:
Juicy Fruit Gum, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Cream of Wheat, the moving walkway, and the movie theater were all introduced at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, among other inventions
The Ferris Wheel, moving walkway, Pabst Blue Ribbon, squashed penny souvenirs, Juicy Fruit gum, and Aunt Jemima pancake mix were all unveiled at the 1893 Chicago World Fair
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 32 of the best facts about 1893 Chicago I managed to collect.
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Chicago, "The Windy City", got that nickname not because of its weather, but because of its politicians bragging about the city to win the 1893 World's Fair. Its average wind speed of 10.3 mph is not even exceptional relative to other American cities: Boston- 12.4mph, and NYC- 9.3mph.
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At the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, “Pickle King” H.J. Heinz tempted fairgoers with a “free gift” if they visited his booth and tasted his wares. By the end of the fair, Heinz had given out some 1 million “pickle pins,” launching one of the most successful marketing gambits in U.S. history.
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In 1893 Milton Hershey bought his first chocolate-making equipment after seeing it at the World's Columbian Expo in Chicago.
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The Pledge of Allegiance was written by a socialist who wanted it recited in schools to honor the opening of the 1893 Chicago World Fair, increase national patriotism, and finally, increase magazine subscription sales.
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Chicago is home to the first aquarium which opened in 1893.
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Over 27.5 million people attended the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. At that time the US population was just under 63 million and Chicago's had just passed 1 million people.
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A crew sailed a replica of a viking ship from Norway to Chicago in 1893 to coincide with a fair celebrating Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Americas.
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Francis Millet invented spray painting when he needed a faster way to paint under tight deadlines in preparation for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair
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In 1893 Westinghouse won the bid to light the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and Tesla was able to demonstrate his fully integrated alternating current system to the world.
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H.H. Holmes (serial killer who operated a Murder Castle during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair as written in the book "Devil in the White City") is still suspected to be the true identity of Jack the Ripper
What is true about 1893 chicago?
You can easily fact check it by examining the linked well-known sources.
The Chicago Columbian Exposition World Fair of 1893 played a huge role in American culture like the 'Pledge of Alligence'; introduced modern appliances like the dish washer; and common American Fair architecture like the Ferris Wheel and Midway.
The original Ferris wheel made $726,850.50 at 50¢ a ride during the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. - source
In 1893 a Priest named Casimir Zeglen was inspired to invent a bulletproof vest after the fatal shooting of the mayor of Chicago. He then asked people to shoot him in order to prove the effectiveness of his invention. - source
In 1893 farmers made a 22,000 lb block of cheese for the Canadian Display at the Chicago World's Fair. It fell through the floor and was moved to the concrete reinforced floor of the Agricultural Building. It was awarded a bronze medal.
Walt Disney father worked on the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair and would tell stories of all the countries coming together for a big Expo. That sparked his interested in future Worlds Fair, which was the inspiration for Epcot. - source
World Fairs like the 1893 Chicago Fair and the 1939 New York Fair, which showcase technology and culture, are still ongoing. The last one was the 2017 Expo in Astana, Kazakhstan (linked) and the next one will be in Dubai in 2020.
Directors of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago wanted a centrepiece to out do the previous exposition in Paris and "out Eiffel Eiffel". To achieve this, they commissioned a design by American engineer George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.
The original Ferris Wheel was created for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair in an attempt to one-up the Eiffel Tower, which had been unveiled at the 1889 Paris World's Fair
Pabst added the "Blue Ribbon" after being named America's Best Beer at the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. Whether they actually won or not remains unclear.
The Chicago World's Fair in 1893 was not only the World's Fair where H.H. Holmes built his House of Horrors, but was the same World's Fair that was lit up with lights courtesy of Nikola Tesla's alternating current.
The breadknife was exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago
