Long before it was possible to read articles on the internet (like this one), developers, architects and engineers from all over the world needed an outlet to share their ideas and inventions on a global scale. Thus, when the Industrial Revolution was at its prime and technological advances were of the utmost importance, the World’s Fair was born.

What is the World’s Fair?

The first World’s Fair, also called the World Expo, began shortly after the French Industrial Exposition in 1844. As French expos grew larger each year that followed, they eventually garnered an international audience. In 1851, London served as host to the first global expo, the Great Exposition, bringing together thought leaders and inventors from all corners of the earth. These fairs were open to the general public, and were meant to share and showcase new technology, art, and architecture from a given nation.

In 1928, the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) in Paris was formed, then consisting of 31 nations that would be the key decision-makers on all world’s fairs going forward. The purpose of the BIE was to create official, sanctioned expos in effort to control the “unofficial,” poorly managed and expensive expos emerging around the world. Today, the BIE consists of 170 nations.

Three Eras of World’s Fairs

World’s Fairs can be split into three different eras. The first era focused on new technology and innovation during the age of industrialism. Inventions like the elevator (Dublin, 1853) and the telephone (Philadelphia, 1876) were first introduced to the public during this string of fairs. The second era was one of cultural exchange; while these expos still showcased major innovations, they also encouraged cross-cultural communication and sharing. The 1964 World’s Fair in New York, for example, was centered on “Peace Through Understanding.”

The last era, which extends through to the present day, is the era of national branding. Today, different nations host every five years, during which they share quintessential foods, traditions, and culture that best demonstrates the ideals of their country. Nations that host the modern-day World’s Fair bear huge costs as they are required to build their own pavilions that often span thousands of acres.

The World’s Fair has been hosted by many major cities including Vienna, Philadelphia, New York, Brussels, St. Louis, San Francisco, Montreal and Shanghai. The last expo took place in 2017 in Kazakhstan; the next will happen in Dubai in 2020.

8 Iconic Structures that Still Stand

Beyond their introductions of famous inventions, World’s Fairs were commonly known to produce some of the most innovative and interesting architectural structures. While most offer temporary displays that last for about six months, some exceptional examples, like the Eiffel Tower, remain in place still today.

Here are some of the most iconic, renowned landmarks that have emerged from the World’s Fair:

1. The Eiffel Tower (Paris, 1889)

The Eiffel Tower, built in Paris from 1887-1889, served as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair. Constructed to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, it was, at first, the subject of controversy. Critics did not believe it could be done, nor did they agree with it from an artistic standpoint. Within the art world, a group of artists and professionals even developed a petition titled “Artists Against the Eiffel Tower.” Nonetheless, the Eiffel Tower became a global icon of France and remains one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

2. The Křižíkova Fountain (Prague, 1891)

Now a popular tourist attraction in Prague, Křižíkova Fountain was built for the General Land Centennial Exhibition in 1891. Restored in 1990, it still features an impressive light display originally created by Czech inventor František Křižík. Currently, the fountain is operated in the summertime during evening ballet and music shows. It features an amphitheatre that can fit an audience of 60,000, and uses 3,000 water jets and 1,200 multicolored lights.

3. The Palace of Fine Arts (Chicago, 1893)

The Palace of Fine Arts, or the Fine Arts Building, was built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. At the time, it was used to exhibit paintings, drawings, sculptures and other artwork from across the globe. Following the World’s Fair, the building was used as the Columbian Museum, then became the Field Museum of Natural History until 1920. In 1928, after years of vacancy and a public campaign to restore the building, it became the Museum of Science and Industry. The building remains a prime example of Chicago’s most iconic architecture.

4. The Magic Fountain of Montjuic (Barcelona, 1929)

Located near the Palau Nacional in Barcelona, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc was first constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. Carles Buïgas, then famous for designing illuminated fountains, designed this impressive landmark. He submitted his design just one year before the exhibition, which was considered quite ambitious; the construction required over 3,000 workers.

5. The Atomium (Brussels, 1958)

Expo 59, or the Brussels World’s Fair, was the first major World Expo registered under the BIE after World War II. It was also the inspiration for the iconic Atomium structure, which sat at the center of where the fair took place. Now a museum, the Atomium as a whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times. This scientific replica was meant to portray the widespread belief in scientific progress in the 1950s. Within the tubes that connect the steel spheres are stairs, escalators and a lift that allow each sphere to be accessible to the public. Today, a restaurant with a panoramic city view sits at the very top.

6. The Space Needle (Seattle, 1962)

A must-see for visitors in Seattle, this landmark of the Pacific Northwest was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, where its opening attracted a crowd of 2.3 million people. A marvel of its time, the Space Needle was built to take on 200 mph winds and 9.0 magnitude earthquakes. Its design is attributed to a three key influencers: businessman Edward E. Carlson, whose sketch of a giant balloon tied to the ground inspired the Space Needle’s sloping base; architect John Graham, whose flying saucer concept yielded the structure’s upper halo shape; and Victor Steinbrueck, who advocated for an hourglass profile. Today, visitors can access the Space Needle’s observation deck and rotating panoramic restaurant.

7. The Biosphere (Montreal, 1967)

Today, the Montreal Biosphere serves as a museum on the environment. It sits on Saint Helen’s Island where the pavilion for the 1967 World’s Fair once stood. Architect Buckminster Fuller introduced the geodesic dome shape, which was built using steel and acrylic cells. The futuristic building features a shading system to control internal temperature, which is meant to mimic the biological processes of the human body that maintain internal temperature. At the time of its opening, it also featured the longest escalator ever built.

8. China Pavilion (Shanghai, 2010)

Shanghai’s Expo 2010, or the 2010 World’s Fair, took place at the site of the China Pavilion’s inauguration. Known by locals as the Oriental Crown, it was the largest display in the history of World’s Fairs. Thus, unsurprisingly, it was also the most expensive — it cost about $220 million to build. Fit for the era of national branding, the pavilion was used to display Chinese achievements throughout history, incorporating cultural aspects in its architecture and exhibits. Today, the pavilion houses the China Art Museum, which is the largest art museum in Asia.

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