A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Chicago 1893 World's Fair University of Virginia, American Studies This University of Virginia site details the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, which held many social and cultural implications for the 20th century in the fields of food, business, and technology, among others. What is a fair? Have students describe the local fairs, carnivals, or other such events that they are familiar with. What is the purpose of these events? Come up with a list of people who can either now or sometime in history be considered "outsiders looking in." What is Chinatown? Brainstorm any words or images that you associate with this idea. Take students on a visual exploration of the history of Chinese Americans. Display pictures representing each aspect contained in the website. The students should look at the pictures and record their reactions on some viewing guide that the teacher provides. Then, discuss the obstacles the Chinese had to face. Give students a lecture detailing the information that is contained in this website. Then, ask them to explore the site looking for ways the Chinese experience was similar to another "outsider." For example, students could compare the Gold Rush experience of Chinese and Americans. Or, students could compare the experience of African-Americans immediately after the Civil War and the Chinese Americans. How were their experiences similar or different? How did the time difference play a role?

Photographs of the Chicago 1893 World's Fair
Boston College: Digital Archive of American Architecture

Reports of the World's Fair
1893 World's Fair Web-Book

Description: The first source is a collection of photographs and drawings of the various attractions at the Chicago World's Fair. The second source is a collection of drawings, photographs, and texts lifted directly from period literature and organized in such a way as to offer a window into the experience of a visitor to the fair.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

Simulate a tour of the World's Fair by displaying printed out photographs of the event around the classroom. Have the students slowly walk around the room to view each of the pictures closely. Students can record their reactions to each of the photographs on a viewing guide provided by the teacher and then discuss these as a class.

Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Have students read selections from Hubert Howe Bancroft's "The Book Of The Fair", 1893 in order to identify and analyze contemporary understandings of the Fair's purpose and objectives.
Have students use the information they can gather, from the documents available, to write a letter to a friend from the perspective of a visitor to the World's Fair. These letters should include detailed descriptions of sites and experiences at the fair.