World’s fairs, now called World Expos, are large global expositions that exhibit the achievements of nations. They originally focused on industry and technology before shifting to a focus on cultural exchange and nation branding in the mid-20th century. On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, the boys go into a deep dive of several notable world’s fairs including the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, The 1933 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, and the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. They conclude the episode by talking about how and why the world’s fair has declined as a cultural institution. Amongst other things they discuss how the Ferris wheel was first invented for Chicago’s 1893 world’s fair, how the 1904 St. Louis world’s fair put over 1,000 Filipino people on display, how the Van Wyck Expressway was extended to provide access to the 1964 NYC world’s fair, and how the newest world’s fair just opened in Osaka, Japan this week. 

Links:

What Was the Great Exhibition of 1851 by Steven Brindle

Falsifying History by Destroying Cities - Stewart Hicks

1500 Buildings Built in 3 Years - Louisiana Purchase Exposition 1904 - Auto Didactic

Long-delayed DiCaprio/Scorsese serial killer film Devil in the White City back on track by Andrew Pulver

The 1964 World’s Fair (1996)

OSAKA EXPO 2025! All To Know Before You Go!

Ticket presales, pavilion completion slow 1 month before Osaka Expo

Expo 2025 Osaka: 8 Must-See National Pavilions

The Fall of The Fair by Harry Swartout

Artwork:

NY World's Fair 1964-1965 by PLCjr

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Recorded on 4/13/2025