World's fair
In 1791, Prague organized the first World's Fair in Bohemia. The event took place during the coronation of Leopold II as king of Bohemia. It was held inside the Clementinum building to celebrate manufacturing methods in the region. This early exhibition set a precedent for future gatherings focused on trade and technology.
The era of industrialization ran from 1850 to 1938. During these years, world expositions displayed state-of-the-art science and inventions from around the globe. The Great Exhibition opened in London in 1851 within the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, conceived this idea. Subsequent fairs followed in New York, Philadelphia, Paris, Barcelona, Chicago, and St. Louis.
Inventions like the telephone appeared for the first time at these events. The 1893 fair in Chicago featured the Yerkes great refractor telescope. The 1904 fair in St. Louis celebrated the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase. These exhibitions established the basic character of the modern world's fair.
A shift occurred starting with the 1939, 1940 New York World's Fair. Organizers moved away from pure technology displays toward cultural themes and social progress. The theme of that fair was Building the World of Tomorrow. Later events adopted titles such as Peace Through Understanding and Man and His World.
Expo 67 in Montreal retired the term world's fair in favor of Expo. This new terminology had been popular in French language since the Brussels World Fair in 1958. The Montreal Expos baseball team took its name from the 1967 event. These fairs encouraged effective intercultural communication alongside sharing technological innovation.
From World Expo 88 in Brisbane onwards, countries began using expositions to improve their national image through pavilions. Finland, Japan, Canada, France, and Spain served as key examples. A study by Tjaco Walvis showed that improving national image was the main goal for 73% of countries participating in Expo 2000. Pavilions became a form of advertising campaign known as nation branding. Spain used Expo '92 and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona to underscore its position as a modern democratic country.
The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has served as an international sanctioning body since 1928. The adoption of the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions established this authority. Four types of international exhibition are organized under its auspices: World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos, and the Milan Triennial.
World Expos are formally known as International Registered Exhibitions. They are the biggest category events where participants generally build their own pavilions. Their duration may be between six weeks and six months. Since 1995, the interval between two World Expos has been at least five years. World Expo 2015 took place in Milan from May 1 to October 31.
Specialised Expos are smaller in scope and investments with shorter durations. These range from three weeks to three months. Previously called Special Exhibitions or International Specialized Exhibitions, these terms are no longer used officially. Only one Specialised Expo can be held between two World Expos. The largest country pavilions may not exceed 1,000 square meters. Horticultural Expos are co-regulated by the International Association of Horticultural Producers.
Most structures built for world's fairs are temporary and dismantled after the fair closes. Landmark towers remain as exceptions. The Eiffel Tower is the most famous survivor, built for the Exposition Universelle in 1889. Contemporary critics opposed its construction and demanded it be removed after the fair concluded.
The Crystal Palace from London's first World's Fair was designed to be recycled but moved to a permanent location before burning down in 1936. Memorial Hall in Philadelphia still serves as the home for the Please Touch Museum. The Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne holds World Heritage status. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago occupies the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 Columbian Exposition.
In Nashville, a full-scale replica of the Parthenon stands today in Centennial Park. It features plaster reproductions of the Elgin Marbles. The Space Needle remains an icon in Seattle following the Century 21 Exposition. The Atomium in Brussels is a 165-billion-times-enlarged iron-crystal-shaped building that still stands at the exposition site. The Unisphere from the New York World's Fair sits on its original site in Flushing Meadows.
Some world's fair sites became parks incorporating elements of the expo. Jackson Park in Chicago and the Chicago Midway were the site of the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Forest Park in Saint Louis hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. San Diego's Balboa Park defines its central area through structures left by the Panama, California Exposition.
The Seattle Center forms much of the University of Washington campus thanks to landscaping from the Alaska, Yukon, Pacific Exposition. Flushing Meadows Park in Queens serves as the site for both the 1939 and 1964 New York World's Fairs. Riverfront Park in Spokane was created for Expo '74 and remains a popular part of downtown.
In Lisbon, the main buildings of Expo '98 were completely integrated into the city itself. The China pavilion from Expo 2010 in Shanghai is now the China Art Museum. The Italian Pavilion of Expo 2015 remains on the original site in Milan. Many former fairgrounds have been converted into public parks or museums that serve communities today.
Walt Disney utilized attractions from the 1964 New York World's Fair to create Disneyland. Rides including It's a Small World and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln moved to the park after the fair closed. The building that housed the Carousel of Progress still operates at the resort.
The concept of a permanent world's fair came to fruition with the Disney Epcot theme park near Orlando, Florida. Epcot features national pavilions and exhibits concerning technology similar to typical universal expositions. Several of the 1964 attractions relocated to Disneyland have been duplicated at Walt Disney World Resort.
Other mementos remain scattered across cities. Signs directing people to Flushing Meadows, Corona Park exist in the New York City Subway system. At least one tile artwork of the Man and His World theme remains in the Montreal Metro subway. Souvenir items from fair visits often turn up at garage sales. Many fairs produced postage stamps and commemorative coins for collectors.
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Common questions
When did the first World's Fair in Bohemia take place?
Prague organized the first World's Fair in Bohemia in 1791 during the coronation of Leopold II as king of Bohemia. The event was held inside the Clementinum building to celebrate manufacturing methods in the region.
What year did the Great Exhibition open in London and where was it located?
The Great Exhibition opened in London in 1851 within the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, conceived this idea which set a precedent for future gatherings focused on trade and technology.
Which organization has served as an international sanctioning body since 1928?
The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has served as an international sanctioning body since 1928. The adoption of the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions established this authority over four types of international exhibitions.
How long do World Expos last and what is the interval between them since 1995?
World Expo duration may be between six weeks and six months with at least five years between two events since 1995. World Expo 2015 took place in Milan from May 1 to October 31.
Why did Expo 67 in Montreal retire the term world's fair in favor of Expo?
Expo 67 in Montreal retired the term world's fair in favor of Expo because new terminology had been popular in French language since the Brussels World Fair in 1958. These fairs encouraged effective intercultural communication alongside sharing technological innovation.