A Century of Progress International Exposition: Introduction

A Souvenir of a Century of Progress Admission Ticket. 1934. Newberry Library.

While the title of Chicago World’s Fair may refer to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, it also is used to refer to the Century of Progress International Exposition held in the same city forty years later in 1933. Opening in the midst of the Great Depression and the beginnings of the geopolitical unrest that would ultimately lead to World War II later in the decade, this second Chicago World’s Fair sought to project a sense of progress, hope, and transformation. With its focus on technological innovation and corporate sponsorship, the Fair promoted a distinctly American view of progress, one supported by industry and the American dollar. 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.