Strange Happenings at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

Kelsey Josephson

Alternate history is popular in steampunk storytelling, but what happens when reality is stranger than fiction? Come learn about the 1893 World’s Fair that almost wasn’t and the curious events surrounding the exposition.
With fierce competition between cities to host the Fair and the War of the Currents, the Columbian Exposition had a challenging start. We’ll discuss the myriad of problems faced by the scale of the construction of the White City, inventions and products debuted, the multitude of notable international visitors, and shocking crimes committed in Chicago during the Fair. Finally, we’ll examine examples of 1893 World’s Fair in media.