18 Aug hiding in plain sight: surviving remnants of 1893 world’s columbian exposition in jackson park
the following images carefully document (in great detail) surviving remnants from chicago’s 1893 columbian exposition, held in jackson park on the south side of chicago (hyde park). i’ve included two original charles atwood-designed (d.h. burnham & company) exterior arc lamp posts (used on the fairgrounds, but later relocated shortly after the fair ended), ornamental cast iron newel posts (also designed by atwood), an original manhole cover fabricated by or for the westinghouse electric and mfg. company (the lights and electrical systems were powered by tesla’s alternating current), and the columbia (more widely known as the clarence darrow memorial) stone pedestrian bridge, with sweeping abutments, lamppost bases and ornamental cast iron railings. the bridge pre-dates the fair, built in 1880 by burnham and root, but frederick law olmsted retained it for the fairgrounds.
all images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2021.
westinghouse electric cast iron manhole cover:
atwood-designed painted cast iron newels posts (railing likely not original):
burnham and root pedestrian bridge and lamp base:
atwood designed lamp post bases (original to the fair, but later relocated in 1895):
