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Genealogy Club

The 1893 Chicago World's Fair

Discover how the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition brought diverse cultures into the Chicago area. Registration encouraged, walk-ins welcome.

Historical Presenter, Michelle Gibbons, will discuss the turn of events that took place at the World’s Columbian Exposition, later to be called the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Gibbons will explain how Thomas Edison brought his new inventions to the fair.  She will discuss how author L. Frank Baum wrote the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz based on the magic and beauty he saw in Edison’s inventions and other influences at the fair. While the fair brought to light many new inventions, cultures, and literary works, it also cast darkness among the city as America’s first well-known serial killer, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes (also known as H.H. Holmes), confessed to murdering between 27-200 people in his hotel. On a lighter note, the inventions and magic can still be found in Chicago’s last-standing building of 1893, The Museum of Science and Industry, where families, adults and children can learn and explore technology, history and culture of the past and present.

Read more about the presenter at her website: https://www.michellegibbonspresents.com/ 

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