From the Archives of the Harold Washington Library: Photos & Items from the Columbian World Expo

[Bushman]

My photography class got a special treat today, and although this is very early Golden Era, and to some precedes it, I felt compelled to share these images that I was allowed to take for your viewing pleasure. These are original prints and photographs taken AT the Columbian World Exposition of 1893.

The fair grounds prior to construction:

A fake battleship built for the Naval exhibits at the fair:

 

[Fading Fast]

Great pictures, thank you for sharing.

Recently caught this documentary on Amazon Streaming (free if you're an Amazon Prime member) on the 1893 World Fair:

It's absolute amazing how gigantic the fair was - and that they built all these buildings (like the ones in your 6th, 7th and 9th picture) just as temporary structures.