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A world’s fair is a global event that allows countries to showcase their remarkable achievements to a vast audience. Each exposition is based on a central theme, ranging from broad topics like industry and aviation to more specific ones, such as the unveiling of the Panama Canal during the 1915 San Francisco Expo.
World's Fairs are renowned for creating iconic landmarks that often symbolize their host cities. The Eiffel Tower is the most well-known example, but other notable structures include the Seattle Space Needle, the original Ferris wheel, and the Atomium in Brussels.
The first world’s fair took place more than 150 years ago in London, and the next one will be held in 2020 in Dubai. In between, these global events have produced both remarkable and peculiar moments. Here are some of the most memorable and unusual stories from the fairs.
10. How Pabst Won Its Ribbon
For more than a century, Pabst Brewery has proudly declared its product as America’s Best Beer, ever since it received the prestigious blue ribbon at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World’s Fair). A few years later, the beer rebranded from Pabst Select to Pabst Blue Ribbon to solidify its new identity.
Over time, the true origin of the ribbon became increasingly unclear. It was commonly believed that the blue ribbon was awarded to the beer after the World’s Fair, though Pabst’s own website debunks this claim.
Pabst contends that they began tying silk blue ribbons around each bottle of their beer (then called Best Select) as early as 1882 to signify the numerous awards it had won. However, some accounts of the Columbian Expo go even further, stating that Pabst never actually received the blue ribbon at the fair.
Beer historian Maureen Ogle notes that the entrants at the expo were not judged against each other, but rather measured against an industry standard based on qualities like purity, color, and flavor. Each beer was given a score ranging from 0 to 100.
Pabst did secure the highest score (just narrowly surpassing Anheuser-Busch), but they received the same recognition as all other winners with a score over 80. Importantly, no blue ribbons were awarded. Instead, everyone who achieved a winning score was given a commemorative bronze medal and certificate.
9. The Wild West Show Adjacent to the Fair
The aforementioned Columbian Expo had its fair share of strange issues, one of the most infamous being that the notorious serial killer H.H. Holmes was using the event to lure unsuspecting out-of-town victims to his Murder Castle. The event almost spiraled into a financial catastrophe but was ultimately saved by its star attraction, the Ferris wheel, designed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.
To add to the drama, the World’s Fair faced stiff competition from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Sensing an opportunity, Bill Cody realized the scope of the fair and attempted to join in. However, when he learned that the exposition’s organizers wanted half of his earnings, Cody, ever the savvy businessman, leased 15 acres of land right next to the fair and set up his own spectacle.
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show featured around 300 performers and several herds of animals. Highlights included Annie Oakley’s remarkable sharpshooting, a reenactment of Custer’s last stand, and a staged Native American attack on a stagecoach, complete with a cavalry rescue.
Cody’s show opened four weeks prior to the expo and continued until the day after the World’s Fair ended. With over 310 performances, it attracted an average of 16,000 spectators per show, generating $1 million in profit. Bill used his earnings to establish the city of Cody, Wyoming.
8. The Diplomatic Incident Triggered by a President
World’s fairs often provide a platform for nations to showcase their achievements, which can sometimes lead to political tensions. This was certainly the case at the 1967 Montreal Exposition, which sparked a diplomatic incident between Canada and France.
In the late 1960s, Quebec was in the midst of a political movement advocating for its independence. One of the most notable political figures to attend Expo 67 was French President Charles de Gaulle. During his speech before thousands at Montreal City Hall, de Gaulle made a statement that would stir controversy: Vive le Quebec libre (“Long live free Quebec”).
The phrase was a rallying cry for Quebecers pushing for independence, and it was seen as a clear endorsement of the sovereignty movement. De Gaulle’s words ignited a political firestorm, prompting Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to issue an official rebuke.
Pearson responded by asserting that Canadians were already free and did not require liberation, also noting the many Canadians who had died to liberate Europe during the world wars. Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau raised the provocative question of what would have happened if the Canadian prime minister had visited France and shouted, “Brittany to the Bretons.”
De Gaulle took offense to these remarks and cut his visit short. Back in France, he faced some criticism for violating diplomatic protocol, and the relationship between Canada and France remained strained for the remaining years of his presidency.
7. Feeding Time at the Fair
With millions flocking to world’s fairs, food vendors recognize a prime opportunity to introduce their products to the masses. And over time, many have successfully capitalized on this chance.
Iced tea, Juicy Fruit gum, Cream of Wheat, and ice cream cones are just a few items that rose to fame at international expos. Some even claim to have made their debut there, though this is a subject of debate.
Many North Americans first encountered Belgian waffles at the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle in 1962. While the dessert quickly became a favorite, it actually differed from the traditional Brussels waffle found in Belgium. The Belgian version was typically leavened with egg whites or ale yeast, not baking powder, and was without the whipped cream and fruit toppings.
Perhaps the most iconic fair food is cotton candy. Although the origins of this sugary treat can be traced to various sources, the machine-spun version made its global debut at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.
The machine was invented by William Morrison, a dentist, and confectioner John C. Wharton. Despite a box costing 25 cents, half the price of admission, they sold over 65,000 boxes. The sweet treat was originally called “fairy floss,” and it wasn’t until two decades later that inventor Josef Lascaux (also a dentist) renamed it “cotton candy” after refining the machine.
6. The Recognition of Baby Incubators
World’s fairs played a pivotal role in popularizing one of neonatal care’s most important inventions—the incubator—largely due to the efforts of one individual, Martin Couney.
The baby incubator was developed towards the end of the 19th century, but it faced skepticism within the medical community. For the first 50 years, it was largely viewed as a novelty rather than a genuine medical tool.
Martin Couney, a German who may have studied medicine under obstetrician Pierre-Constant Budin, began showcasing incubators as part of sideshow exhibits. In 1896, he introduced them at his first world’s fair, the Great Industrial Exposition of Berlin. The exhibits proved so successful that Couney continued to present them at various fairs across Europe and America.
At the 1901 Pan-American Expo in Buffalo, New York, Couney took a bold step by constructing a large building specifically for his baby incubator exhibit. The display not only attracted a massive crowd but also received significant media attention.
Couney’s success led him to relocate to New York in 1904, where he established a permanent exhibit at Coney Island’s Luna Park. He staffed the exhibit with a dedicated team of nurses and doctors who provided round-the-clock care for the premature infants.
Couney’s exhibit remained operational until 1943, during which he saved thousands of lives and earned the respect of the medical community, convincing them of the incubator’s critical benefits.
5. The Minstrel Show Backed By The NAACP
The minstrel show was a popular American entertainment that combined variety performances, musical numbers, and comedic sketches, often filled with racist overtones. These shows frequently mocked black culture, relying heavily on stereotypes, and although some black performers participated, most of the cast were white individuals in blackface.
Minstrel shows emerged in the 1830s and remained widespread throughout the 19th century. Their popularity began to wane in the early 20th century with the rise of vaudeville. By the time of the civil rights movement, the minstrel show was nearly obsolete. So, it was surprising when a minstrel show was staged at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
Titled America, Be Seated!, the show was created by Michael Todd Jr., the son of movie producer and Elizabeth Taylor’s third husband, Mike Todd. The performance, however, was more of a satirical take on traditional minstrel shows, omitting blackface and harmful stereotypes. It featured an integrated cast of white and black performers, including singer Lola Falana and actor Louis Gossett Jr.
Initially, civil rights activists criticized the show, but their stance changed after seeing previews. One NAACP chapter president declared that there was “nothing in this show detrimental to or ridiculing Negroes,” while another described it as an “asset for integration.”
Todd had high hopes for America, Be Seated!, believing it would be such a success at the fair that it would eventually tour across the nation. However, the show closed after just two performances, grossing only $300. Variety attributed its failure to the “minstrel” label, calling it “box office poison.” Ironically, critics noted that it was more reminiscent of vaudeville than the minstrel tradition.
4. The Hatred For The Eiffel Tower
Although it eventually became one of the most iconic landmarks in history, the Eiffel Tower initially faced resistance from the people of Paris. This sentiment was especially strong among the city’s intellectuals, who argued that the towering iron structure would overshadow Paris’s cherished historical landmarks and disrupt the city’s picturesque skyline.
Aside from aesthetic concerns, there were additional objections to the tower's construction. At a height of 324 meters (1,063 feet) at its peak, the Eiffel Tower became the world’s tallest man-made structure, nearly double the height of the previous record-holder, the Washington Monument, which stood at 169 meters (555 feet).
Some critics dismissed the project as a mere vanity project for Gustave Eiffel, who envisioned his tower becoming as monumental as the Egyptian pyramids. Others took a more pragmatic view, criticizing it as a costly and unnecessary expense, particularly since its primary purpose was to serve as an archway entrance for the world’s fair.
The Eiffel Tower was completed just in time for the Exposition Universelle of 1889, an event that celebrated the French Revolution. By this point, some critics began to reassess their views, especially after the tower received praise from international figures like Thomas Edison and future King Edward VII.
Despite the growing admiration for the Eiffel Tower, some remained unyielding in their criticism of what they saw as a 'monstrosity.' One of the most vocal opponents was writer Guy de Maupassant, who reportedly dined daily at the tower's restaurant, claiming it was the only place in Paris where he could enjoy a meal without having to view the tower itself.
3. The Baby Given Away As A Raffle Prize
The 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle featured a number of controversial exhibits that echoed past scandals. Among them were human exhibits with the Igorot people, Eskimos, and a Chinese village complete with opium dens. The sight of premature babies in incubators also resurfaced, but one particular baby captured the public’s attention.
One-month-old Ernest, an orphan described as 'the property of the Washington Children’s Home Society,' became the subject of an extraordinary prize draw. The fair organizers had planned to give him away as a raffle prize, making him the center of an unsettling spectacle.
However, the winner of this disturbing raffle never came forward to claim his 'prize.' A 2009 documentary about the fair uncovered that the identity and fate of Ernest remained unknown, with the filmmakers unable to track down what ultimately happened to the infant.
2. The People Exhibited In Human Zoos
While world’s fairs are typically seen as a celebration of human achievement, they have also served to highlight some of humanity's darkest moments. One of the most shameful of these was the display of human zoos.
In the latter half of the 19th century, exhibitions featuring people from distant lands gained popularity across Europe. While these human displays were showcased at the 1878 and 1889 world’s fairs in Paris, they reached their peak during the 1931 Paris Colonial Exhibition, which glorified France’s colonial empire.
In response, the French Communist Party organized a counter-exhibit titled The Truth on the Colonies, which aimed to expose the abuses tied to France’s colonial activities. However, it drew only a few thousand attendees, a stark contrast to the millions who visited the main fair. The final occurrence of a human zoo at an international exposition took place at the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958.
Human zoos were a significant part of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Expo in St. Louis, a time following the Philippine-American War. Over 1,000 Filipinos from various tribes were brought to the fair as exhibits.
Their exhibits spanned 47 acres and recreated their villages back home. The most well-known display was of the Igorot tribe, particularly due to their supposed habit of eating dog. While this was actually a rare tradition reserved for special ceremonies, the fair organizers provided dogs daily to create the spectacle.
1. The Assassination Of A President
World's fairs have not been free of violence, with one of the most infamous events being the assassination of President William McKinley at the 1901 Pan-American Expo in Buffalo, New York. On September 6, McKinley was meeting with well-wishers at the Temple of Music auditorium when anarchist Leon Czolgosz approached him and shot him twice in the stomach.
One of the bullets merely caused a grazing wound, but the other struck McKinley's abdomen. He succumbed to gangrene eight days later. He was operated on by a makeshift medical team at the expo's small clinic, which lacked many essential tools. Despite their efforts, the doctors couldn't locate the second bullet and had to leave it inside.
After McKinley's passing, many speculated that his life could have been saved had the doctors used the new X-ray machine, which was also featured at the expo where he was shot. While there are differing accounts of what happened, one version claims that no one thought to utilize the machine that was on display.
A few days after the shooting, McKinley's medical team requested an X-ray machine from Thomas Edison. However, they ultimately decided against using it, believing that the president was recovering and that the risks of moving him to the machine outweighed any potential benefits.
McKinley was not the only prominent politician to be assassinated during a world's fair. At the Chicago World’s Fair, Mayor Carter Harrison Sr. was shot and killed by Patrick Eugene Prendergast in his own home. The event, initially set to be a celebration, turned into a memorial service instead.
