When did Expo 58 take place in Brussels?
Expo 58 took place between April 17 and the 19th of October 1958. The event attracted approximately 41.5 million visitors during this period.
Questions about Expo 58
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who won the bid to host Expo 58 in Belgium?
Belgium won the bid for the 1958 world's fair in 1953. The nation beat out other European capitals like Paris and London to host the event.
What happened to the Congo exhibit at Expo 58?
The Belgian Congo section included a village indigène that served as one of the most notable human zoos of the 20th century. An armed guard blocked communication between white Belgians and the 598 exhibited Congolese people until protesters demanded to be sent home in mid-July.
How many visitors attended Expo 58 compared to previous fairs?
The exhibition attracted approximately 41.5 million visitors, making it the second largest world's fair after the 1900 Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Paris which drew 48 million people.
Why did the Atomium remain standing after Expo 58 ended?
Originally designed to last only six months during the exhibition, the structure remained standing forever. Its outer coating received renewal on the 50th anniversary of the event and today it serves as an emblem of Brussels comparable to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.