A non-fiction work published in 2004 tells of the 1893 World's Fair Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. The city, up until that time, seemed only to be noted for its big stock yards: the hog butcher of the world. This exposition put the Windy City on the map once and for all. And by the way the "windy city" moniker was supposedly slapped on because of all the big talkers in Chi-town rather than the gales of mother nature.
Reading of how the White City, as the fair was dubbed, came into existence is a good read in and of itself. The numbers, the huge numbers, revealed during the construction is phenomenal. I highlighted figures over and over (on the Kindle ) in disbelief of how exorbitant they were. Remember this was the Gilded Age, an era defined as sparkling on the surface and corrupt underneath.
It is amazing how diligently Daniel Burnham, the chief architect, fought to have the fair in Chicago and worked (in two short years) even harder to make sure the exposition out shined the Paris World Fair in 1889. They had the Eiffel Tower, we had the Ferris Wheel, which incidentally was born at the Columbian Exposition.
And then we have the devil...
While the Second City was in a flurry with the construction and all the problems that went with it-and there were a boat load, a serial killer, Dr. H.H. Holmes, was hard at work with his own dark, haunting exposition: the murder castle. His story is a jaw dropper and I'll say no more.
3 comments:
I've read this book as well. I'm a huge fan of this era in history. I like Erik Larson approach to non-fiction slash historical fiction.
Good read. Leland
I am reading his Berlin story now. He is a good writer!!
Read that one too! He is pretty good at telling the story from a very interesting view point. I think he embellishes a little.
Post a Comment