World’s Fairs and Expositions

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Collection Description

World’s fairs were landmark events in an era before television and the World Wide Web, before long-distance travel became a routine experience for many people. The Wolfsonian’s collection traces the evolution of the fairs, from the 1851 Crystal Palace Exposition in London to the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Among the world’s fair material in the collection are souvenirs and other commemorative objects, drawings for the pavilions, objects and artwork that were displayed at the fairs, and a vast amount of publications, from multi-volume official catalogs to brochures.

Souvenir box from the New York World's Fair, 1939
Administration Building, New York World's Fair, with futuristic walk-ways
Souvenir tie clip from the Chicago World's Fair, 1934
Birds Eye View of the Centennial Buildings and Grounds
Vase: Monart, similar to shape OF
Secretary, for the "Officer's Ideal Quarters," Earl's Court Military Exhibition, London
Ford A Century of Progress Chicago
History of Eire: mural study for Irish Pavilion at the New York World's Fair, 1939
Direct Route to New York World's Fair, Pennsylvania Railroad
Court of Flowers [Mural study for Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate International Exhibition, San Francisco]
Den Nordiske Industri Landbrugs Og Kunstudstilling I Kjobenhavn
Men hanging banner for American Artists Congress Exhibition
Tile: North Wind
Souvenir thermometer from the Chicago World's Fair 1934
Commemorative plate from the Universal Exposition, 1889