The World's Columbian Exposition, or the World's Fair, was created by an act of Congress, approved April 25, 1890, entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures, and the product of the soil, mine and sea, in the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois."

The act provided for the appointment of commissioners, who should organize the Exposition, and when these preliminaries were completed the President was required to make a public proclamation of the fact and officially invite "all the nations of the earth" to participate in the Exposition. This proclamation was issued December 24, 1890.

The dedication ceremonies took place October 21, 1892, and the days preceding and following, the President of the United States being represented by the Vice-President, who, accompanied by the Cabinet and many prominent officers of the Government, army and navy, and distinguished citizens, officially dedicated the Exposition.

Immediately upon the completion of these ceremonies the installing of the exhibits began.

The great Exposition was opened to the public on May 1, 1893, and will continue open until October 30 following. The admission fee is placed at 50 cents.

The total cost of the Exposition, from its beginning to its close, is estimated at $25,000,000.

The Location Of The Great Fair

So far as visitors to the Fair are concerned, the location of the grounds upon which the main buildings stand is a favorable one. Jackson Park and Midway Plaisance, the Exposition site, are in the southeastern part of the city of Chicago. The two together embrace six hundred and thirty-three acres, attractively situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, the park front being a mile and a half long from northwest to southeast.

The Exposition Buildings

Buildings.

Dimensions in Feet.

Area in Acres.*

Approximate Cost.

ArtGalleries................................................................

320 x 500

4.6

$670,500

Art Annexes................................................................

136 x 220

1.4

Fisheries................................................................

162.1 x 361.1

1.4

224,750

Fisheries Annexes................................................................

135 diameter.

7

Manufactures.................................................

787 x 1,687

44

1,600,750

Agriculture................................................................

500 x 800

15

691,500

Agriculture Annex................................................

312 x 550.5

4

Machinery................................................

494 x 842

17

1,050,750

Machinery Annex................................................

490 x 551

62

Machinery, Machine Shop and Boiler House......................

86 x 1,103.6

2.2

75,000

Administration..................................................................

262 x 262

4.5

436.500

Electricity........................................................................................

345 x 690

9.3

413,500

Mines..................................................................

350 x 700

8.5

266,500

Transportation..................................................................

256 x 960

9.4

369,000

Transportation Annex..................................................................

435 x 850

8.5

Horticulture..................................................................

250.8x 997.8

8

287,000

Woman's.........................................................................................

198.8x 398

3.3

138,000

Forestry........................................................................................

208 x 528

2.6

90,250

Leather........................................................................................

150 x 625

4.3

100.000

Dairy........................................................................................

94.1 x 199.8

.8

30,000

Sawmill........................................................................................

60 x 100

.2

35,000

Stock Pavilion..................................................................

265 x 960

5.8

125,000

StockSheds...................................................................

25

210,000

Other Buildings - Music Hall, Choral Hall. Casino, Indian School, Education Building. "La Rabida," Merchant Tailors. Assembly Hall,

Greenhouse, Power House, etc............................................

22.3

1,803,000

United States Government Building............................................

351 x 421

6.2

400,000

Imitation Battleship............................................

69.25 x 348

.6

100,000

Illinois State Building............................................

160 x 450

3.2

250,000

State and Foreign Buildings (approximate).....

12

2,000.000

Midway Plaisance Buildings (approximate).....

9

1,500,000

240

$12,267,000

♦Floor space and including galleries. Manufactures And Liberal Arts Building.

The principal building in point of area and importance is that of Manufactures and Liberal Arts, a mammoth structure, measuring 1,687 to 1,787 feet and covering 44 acres - the largest exposition structure ever built. It cost $1,600,750.