Why Chicago?
Throughout the late 1800s many places were competing for a chance to participate in this great exposition. Chicago along with St. Louis, Washington, D.C. and New York were in the running to host the World's Fair. In the end Chicago along with New York would be the top contenders but, Chicago would find heavy weight investors to help build their case and hold the World's Columbian Exposition 1893.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, William Waldorf Astor and J. P. Morgan made a very strong case for New York by agreeing to give $15 million dollars to sponsor the fair in New York. With the Civil War and Reconstruction over and Industrialization moving forward many places like New York were looking for ways to advance economically through real estate, and this exposition was the perfect way to move ahead. (2009).
Charles T. Yerkes, Marshall Field, Philip Armour, Gustavus Swift, and Cyrus McCormick would help lead to Chicago by raising a great deal of money to help counter New York's offers. $5 million dollars would be raised by people from every socioeconomic background for stock subscriptions to show that the people of Chicago were also behind the idea of hosting this great exposition. Lyman Gage would sway the U.S. Congress' decision in a major way. Gage proved his fundraising abilities by reaching a goal no one could imagine in a 24 hour time span. Gage was able to come up with several millions of dollars which would lock in Chicago's spot as the host of The World's Columbian Exposition. (Rose, 1996)
During the planning of the World's Columbian Exposition other elements helped to prove why Chicago would be the best place for this great 'fair'. Hosting the fair in Chicago would help to bring people close together as well as bring new people and things to the city.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, William Waldorf Astor and J. P. Morgan made a very strong case for New York by agreeing to give $15 million dollars to sponsor the fair in New York. With the Civil War and Reconstruction over and Industrialization moving forward many places like New York were looking for ways to advance economically through real estate, and this exposition was the perfect way to move ahead. (2009).
Charles T. Yerkes, Marshall Field, Philip Armour, Gustavus Swift, and Cyrus McCormick would help lead to Chicago by raising a great deal of money to help counter New York's offers. $5 million dollars would be raised by people from every socioeconomic background for stock subscriptions to show that the people of Chicago were also behind the idea of hosting this great exposition. Lyman Gage would sway the U.S. Congress' decision in a major way. Gage proved his fundraising abilities by reaching a goal no one could imagine in a 24 hour time span. Gage was able to come up with several millions of dollars which would lock in Chicago's spot as the host of The World's Columbian Exposition. (Rose, 1996)
During the planning of the World's Columbian Exposition other elements helped to prove why Chicago would be the best place for this great 'fair'. Hosting the fair in Chicago would help to bring people close together as well as bring new people and things to the city.