In April, our group reviewed The Devil and the White City by Erik Larson. How do you take a dream idea and get numerous architects to plan a Worlds Fair in 1893 in Chicago on a parcel of land that is swampy? Chicago wanted the recognition after the huge success of the Paris Expo in 1874. Daniel Burnham, the architect had to travel by train between New York, Chicago and other cities to encourage architects to join his dream, then, drain the swampy site, bring in hundreds of workers to build the city, and juggle the funds.
The book uses the alternate chapter method to weave the story of Burnham and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer who lured his victims to their deaths in his elaborately constructed “Murder Castle.” The book explores themes such as the contrast between sanity and insanity; the anonymity that a large modern city affords; the gender roles of men and women at the time; and the difference between Burnham’s large circle of collaborators and Holmes’ isolation.
Some of our members recalled World’s Fairs they attended – New York, Montreal, Adelaide, and Dubai. Did you know that the fair also had an impact on the national consciousness, informing Disneyland, the creation of Oz, and the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright? Inventions first seen at the fair included the Ferris wheel, AC lamps, Cracker Jack® and shredded wheat.
