A Century of Progress International Exposition

Exhibit designed and curated by Caleb Britton

 

In 1933, 40 years after holding the World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition, the city of Chicago hosted yet another World’s Fair called the Century of Progress International Exposition. Opening in the midst of the Great Depression and the beginnings of geopolitical unrest that would lead to World War II later in the decade, this second Chicago World’s Fair sought to project a sense of progress, hope, and innovation. A resounding economic and popular success against all odds, the Century of Progress was reopened the following year for a second season, underlining the irresistible appeal of the Fair’s vision of tomorrow.

Exhibit Contents

Introduction
Organization and Planning
A Vision of Progress

In the Shadow of 1893
Legacy of the Fair
Sources and Further Reading

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Century of Progress: Introduction >>