How often do you think about the 1893 World's Fair?
This article explores the enduring cultural fascination with the 1893 World's Fair and why it continues to influence American identity and conspiracy theories. It argues that our interpretation of history is shaped more by our current context than by objective facts.
Why it matters
Understanding how historical events are reimagined helps explain modern political rhetoric and the construction of national myths.
Of all the displeasures that the Trump Administration has brought upon the District of Columbia, the most peculiar was the dinky little fairgrounds thrown up on the National Mall this past July. Crafted from the finest styrofoam and vinyl that misdirected donations can buy, its design unmistakably evoked the otherworldly classical ensembles of the 1893 World's Fair and its imitators. In some ways, the choice is intuitive. The World's Columbian Exposition was an exuberant expression of American wealth, power, and identity that cultural creators have returned to with fascination again and again. Make America Great Again, right?
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