Austria on Display at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, 1893: A Collection of Sources

Abstract

Abstract The 1893 Columbian Exposition was an iconic event in American history. World's Fairs broadly are useful occasions to examine cultural representation and have long been a favorite subject of cultural historians. The images and documents below illustrate the Austrian presence at the fair in Chicago. The exhibits demonstrate Austria's goal of presenting itself as both a place of high culture and a modern manufacturing center. Excerpts from American guidebooks relate how Austria's exhibits were received. The documents also raise perspectives on the monarchy, dualism, class-based material culture, recurring symbols, and Austria's interpretation of “Liberty” and “Progress.”