Devil in the White City

With the recent discovery of the Arnold library, I have begun reading at a voracious pace. My first victim is "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson, recommended to me a ways back by Jess. It is a must for any Chicagoan. In fourth grade I did a report on the World's Columbian Exposition (the fair is the focus of the book) and naturally, I didn't remember a thing about it except that there was the first and largest Ferris wheel ever built (seriously, what else would a kid take away from that?). But now, despite my aversion to history in general...I've found the story behind the fair remarkable, and I'm ashamed that alot of the information was new to me. Many of Chicago's present-day features are due largely to this fair. SO, it's time for me to get nerdy again...

Anyone recognize this building? It is one of a few buildings out of the over 200 built for the fair that are still in existence. In 1893 it was the Palace of Fine Arts, today it is the Museum of Science and Industry. Another fair-remnant now houses the Art Institute.

And not to mention a few other choice rennovations the city underwent just for the occasion:

-The L, then called the Alley L was built solely to accommodate the influx of visitors into the city and bring them to and from the fairgrounds

-the reversal of the flow of the Chicago river meant to clean up the drinking water and keep breakouts of cholera and other illnesses low

-the nickname "the windy city" was conjured not because of the gusts we are so familiar with, but instead referred to the boasting the city did when pitching for the role of fair host

-The post-fair City Beautiful Movement lead to an aesthetical clean-up of the city including the rise of city parks, fountains and anything else pleasant to contrast the dark and dingy city of the early 1900s

Considering the atmosphere created by team of artist and architects, who would want the city to go back the way it was? Nothing of this magnitude has been established in Chicago or anywhere in the country since. And this concludes your history lesson for the day. Be sure to complete your question and answer workbook for tomorrow.

oh and fun fact: Pabst Blue Ribbon is thus called b/c it won best beer at the Fair