Loving to Learn has been studying about the 1800s for the past two years (2019- 2021). To culminate our 1800s study and kick off the next school year, when we will be studying the 1900s, we had a World’s Fair to represent the various World’s Fairs of the turn-of-the-century.

It began with the Buffalo Bill Show. Buffalo Bill wanted to be in the Chicago World’s fair in 1893, but decided to set up outside to collect the profits of all of the tickets sales, instead of giving up 50% of it to the fair coordinators. He made a fortune.

Once in the fair, we had tents that highlighted cutting-edge inventions in electricity, film, transportation, and weapons.

Art displays were inspired by the work of Henri Matisse, Jacob Lawrence, and Frederic Remington. We reproduced crayons in turn-of-the century packaging. 

Displays highlighted various countries like Spain, China, France, Germany, and Brazil.

We ate foods that were gaining in popularity like the ice cream cone, fairy floss (cotton candy), Cracker Jacks, Graham Crackers, Coca-Cola and Heinz Pickles.

Of course, we had our own hot air balloon and Ferris Wheel too.

John Philip Sousa came with his marching band. We were also entertained by Scott Joplin. Speeches were given by: President Cleveland, Dwight L. Moody, Frederick Douglas, Nikola Tesla, Alexander Graham Bell, Helen Keller, Thomas Edison, Francis Willard, and Susan B. Anthony. 

We altered dresses given to us that were really from the late 1800s.

We illuminated our world’s fair in honor of the Chicago World’s fair of 1893, the first fair to use electric lights.