30 Jun revisiting surviving 1893 chicago columbian exposition remnants scattered around jackson park

surviving remnants of the 1893 chicago columbian exposition revisited.

the following images carefully document surviving remnants from chicago’s 1893 columbian exposition, held in jackson park on the south side of chicago (hyde park).

i’ve included images of an original charles atwood-designed (d.h. burnham & company) exterior arc lamp post (used on the fairgrounds, but later relocated shortly after the fair ended).

multiple ornamental cast iron newel posts and integrated handrails (also designed by atwood) located on either side of the columbia (more widely known as the clarence darrow memorial) stone pedestrian bridge with sweeping abutment. the bridge pre-dates the fair – built in 1880 by burnham and root – but frederick law olmsted retained it for the fairgrounds.

one of three original manhole covers fabricated by or for the westinghouse electric and mfg. company (the lights and electrical systems were powered by tesla’s alternating current).

finally, there are a few remaining art nouveau style cast iron lamps i recently found ( thanks to tim limon of biketropolis) near the dusable black history museum and education center. i’m currently looking through my original copy of j.p. barrett’s 1894 “electricity at the columbian exposition” to learn more about their exact placement, fabricator, etc.

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bld. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2025.