World's Fair

World's fairs, or world expositions, are large public events that are held to demonstrate topics of international interest. These large expositions grew out of the tradition of large national expositions held in France, with the largest being the French Industrial Exposition of 1844 held in Paris. The first official world's fair was the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, England in 1851.

The purpose of world's fairs has changed with world events and culture. From 1851 to 1938, the primary focus of world's fairs was advancements in technology. Beginning in 1939, the theme of world's fairs shifted from industry and technology to cultural exchange and world peace. In 1988, the theme of world's fairs changed again, this time as an opportunity for individual countries to improve their images in the eyes of the world.

Since 1851, there have been 76 official world's fairs. Thousands of souvenirs from these fairs have been produced. Beginning collectors can acquire smaller souvenirs, such as guidebooks, posters, and pin-back buttons at fairly inexpensive prices. Seasoned collectors tend to search for harder-to-find items like jewelry, clocks, toys and china.

Quick Facts

• Many inventions have been unveiled at world's fairs, including the telephone in 1876, the x-ray machine in 1901, and television in 1939
• World's fair souvenirs include models of world's fair architecture, some of which still stands today. The Eiffel Tower (1889), Seattle's Space Needle (1962), and the China Pavilion (2010) are popular tourist attractions today. Souvenirs depicting these and other world's fair structures are easy to find
• The first commemorative coin issued by the United States was minted for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Called the Columbian Half Dollar, these coins are fairly common, but mint examples are difficult to find