The 1893 World's Fair

Designed to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America, the 1893 World's Fair come to be known as the World's Columbian Exposition. Under the direction of architect Daniel H. Burnham, and following Frederick Law Olmsted's landscape plans for the fairgrounds, 630 acres of virtual swampland along Chicago's lakefront were transformed into a breathtaking "White City" of neoclassical architecture, fountains and statuary. With over 27 million visitors during the Exposition's six-month run, the fair's success gave Chicago cultural standing and the recognition it deserved as the nation's leader in commerce and architecture.