Buzz
The 1851 Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in London featured opulent pavilions and grand displays, attracting visitors worldwide and marking the beginning of the celebrated tradition of World’s Fairs.
These global exhibitions were a hallmark of the Victorian Era, continuing sporadically into the 20th and 21st centuries. They gave us iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Seattle’s Space Needle. Additionally, the fairs provided a platform for inventors and artists to showcase their creations, some of which became instant sensations while others gradually gained popularity.
Here are ten common items you might not realize made their debut at World’s Fairs.
10. Ketchup
It’s hard to picture enjoying a hot dog or french fries without the option to add ketchup. However, before the 1876 Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia, finding commercially available ketchup was nearly impossible.
At this event, the Heinz company, then primarily known for horseradish production, introduced a new tomato-based “catsup.” While tomato sauces had been popular since the 1700s, Heinz marketed its product as a “Blessed relief for Mother and other women in the household!” because it was far more convenient to purchase pre-bottled sauce than to make it at home. The Centennial Exposition enabled Heinz to offer free samples and merchandise, including the iconic pickle pin, which helped propel the condiment to widespread popularity.
The telephone also made its debut at this fair, but let’s be honest—ketchup is the real star.
9. Cherry Coke
Although Coca-Cola has existed since 1886, it wasn’t until the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, that the company expanded its offerings with new flavors.
Nearly a century after Coca-Cola’s creation, Cherry Coke made its debut at the fair. Designed to replicate the flavor of cherry sodas from old-fashioned soda fountains, this marked the first time Coca-Cola produced a cherry-flavored cola themselves. The new flavor was an instant success and was released to the public three years later.
Today, Coca-Cola offers not only cherry but also vanilla, lime, orange, and numerous limited-edition flavors.
8. Color Television
At the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) stole the show. During a time when television was becoming ubiquitous, RCA installed over 250 TVs across the fairgrounds—but these weren’t ordinary TVs. They were color televisions.
While TVs were common in the 1960s, most people had never seen color screens before. RCA went a step further by allowing fairgoers to see themselves on screen in the RCA pavilion. The pavilion also featured a live color TV studio where visitors could watch announcements and reports being broadcast in real time.
Interestingly, lost children received a unique perk. They were broadcast on TVs throughout the fair, helping parents locate them from anywhere within the pavilion.
7. Cellophane
A visit to Grandma’s house wouldn’t be complete without a piece of candy, often wrapped in clear cellophane. At the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City, this tradition was born at the “Wonderful World of Chemistry” exhibit. The exhibit showcased a candy-wrapping machine that could wrap up to 400 pounds of hard candy in cellophane daily.
Today, cellophane is still widely used by florists, gift wrappers, and food manufacturers, though it no longer holds the same level of fascination as it did in the early 20th century.
6. Zipper
Although the “automatic continuous clothing closure” was invented and patented in 1851, it didn’t gain widespread popularity until 1893, when Whitcomb Judson showcased his “clasp locker” at the Chicago World’s Fair.
Judson’s clasp was initially designed for shoes, but the patent highlighted its potential for various types of clothing. While it didn’t immediately captivate fairgoers, who were more drawn to attractions like Buffalo Bill’s shows and the Ferris wheel, corporate interest spurred Judson’s innovation. By the 1920s, “zippers,” named for the sound they made, became standard on boots. Their use expanded to children’s clothing, eventually becoming the ubiquitous fasteners we rely on today.
5. Pay Toilets
In many European countries, public toilets are plentiful—provided you have a few coins to spare.
While pay-per-use toilets aren’t common in the U.S., they are found worldwide, from Mexico to Singapore. The first such toilet debuted at the 1851 Great Exhibition World’s Fair. Nearly a million visitors paid a penny to use the “monkey closets,” which proved so successful that they remained operational long after the fair ended.
The phrase “spending a penny” became a Victorian-era term for using the restroom. However, for that penny, visitors received more than just access—they also got a comb and a shoe shine as part of the experience.
4. Dishwasher
Sometimes, spite can be a powerful driving force.
In 1883, Josephine Cochrane, an Ohio housewife, grew tired of spending hours cleaning up after dinner parties. She famously declared, “If no one else will invent a dishwashing machine, I’ll do it myself.” And she did just that.
Within three years, Cochrane patented her hand-operated dishwashing machine. Despite facing resistance from investors who demanded she hand control to a man, she refused. In 1893, she showcased her invention at the Chicago World’s Fair, winning an award for “best mechanical construction, durability, and adaptation to its line of work.” Restaurants and businesses worldwide eagerly sought to learn more about her groundbreaking machine.
Initially, dishwashers were only used in large-scale settings like hotels and businesses. It wasn’t until the 1950s, long after Cochrane’s passing, that they became a coveted appliance for private households.
3. Ferris Wheel
Today, the Ferris wheel is a global symbol of summer fairs and urban skylines, but it began as a response to the Eiffel Tower’s grandeur.
Gustave Eiffel’s iconic iron lattice tower premiered at the 1889 Paris Exposition, also known as the Paris World’s Fair. It quickly became a landmark of Paris, attracting over two million visitors. When Chicago was chosen to host the 1893 World’s Fair, the city felt compelled to create something equally impressive to compete with Eiffel’s masterpiece.
The result was a 231-foot (70.4-meter) tall wheel capable of carrying 2,160 people across its 36 cars. Designed by George Ferris, the wheel was meant to be temporary and was dismantled after the fair in 1894. However, its exhilarating experience and panoramic views of cityscapes ensured its lasting popularity, making it a fixture at public celebrations worldwide.
While the Ferris wheel is globally renowned, it might not be Chicago’s most famous Ferris. That title likely belongs to Mr. Bueller, of course.
2. Ice Cream Cone
Similar to the popsicle, this beloved summer treat was invented entirely by chance.
In 1904, St. Louis hosted the World’s Fair, where the summer heat caused ice cream to sell out rapidly. Vendors ran out of “penny licks,” small reusable serving glasses, creating a dilemma.
Ernest Hamwi, a Syrian vendor, ingeniously rolled one of his zalabias (a waffle-like pastry) into a cone shape and filled it with ice cream, inventing the ice cream cone. Years later, Hamwi recalled that other ice cream sellers quickly adopted his idea, purchasing his waffles to make their own cones, which they called “cornucopias.”
While it’s unclear if this was the very first ice cream cone, historians agree it was the moment that popularized it. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat marveled at fairgoers enjoying ice cream from “an inverted cone of hard cake, resembling a coiled-up waffle.”
1. Moving Walkway
Walk through almost any airport worldwide, and you’ll see both adults and children captivated by the moving walkway. Even in 2024, these futuristic mechanical sidewalks remain a source of fascination (and a lifesaver for tiring out kids during long layovers).
The concept of a moving sidewalk originated with French engineer Eugene Henard, who aimed to debut it at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair. However, he couldn’t complete it in time. It wasn’t until 1893 that Joseph Lyman Silsbee brought the idea to life at the Chicago World’s Fair, creating a walkway with sections for sitting and standing or walking.
The walkway often malfunctioned, leaving little impression on fairgoers. Fortunately, Silsbee got another chance to showcase his invention at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair. This time, it was a resounding success and even appeared in some of Thomas Edison’s early films.
As visions of the future took shape, automated walkways captured the public’s imagination. In 1962, the iconic family from The Jetsons showcased their personal “slidewalks.” Fast forward to today, and we’re practically living in the world of 2062 alongside George and Jane, with moving walkways now a common sight at amusement parks, zoos, museums, and airports worldwide.
