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Columbian Exposition Admission ticket- 1893.
Mount Horeb Area Historical Society Collection.
lakefront pier, an enormous ferris wheel on the midway, and electric lights
illuminating the scene. Man's ablilites and skills were exerted as never
before on the magnificent achievements of the Fair.
Extensive attention was paid to the artistic effect of the buildings and
grounds. The Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building was touted as "one
of the wonders of the world.., the largest structure ever built."2 The var-
ious state buildings were constructed of native materials, and architec-
tural designs were chosen which were characteristic of the state they
represented.
For the international exhibits, the best architects and artisans of each
nation were commissioned to design buildings that best represented the
skills or traditions of their native countries. For example, the German build-
ing was designed by one of Germany's premier architects. The Ceylon
building was built on the order of a Buddhist temple, and based on ancient
ruins found throughout the island. Norway chose the design of a 12th
century Christian church as its entry.
The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 lasted just 6 short months,
from May 1st to October 29th. What remains today of this wondrous event
are mere souvenirs, newspaper clippings, photos and fragmentary evi-
dence scattered across the land. Few buildings of the Fair have survived.
The pavilion erected by the Norwegian government is one of the rare
10    THE GRAND WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION