Grand Inter-State Exposition, Chicago 1873

This stereoscopic image of the Grand Inter-State Exposition in Chicago was produced by Copelin and Son in October 1873. Such fairs were a common feature of the 19th-century, and this image gives us insight into the cultural and economic aspirations of the era. The Grand Inter-State Exposition was an explicit effort to boost Chicago's image after the Great Fire of 1871. We see the central fountain, surrounded by exhibition halls displaying manufactured goods, agricultural products and artworks. The image reflects a desire to showcase industrial progress and civic pride, but it also implicitly reinforces the power structures of the time. Who benefitted from these displays of wealth and innovation? Who was excluded? What kinds of social and economic inequalities were reinforced in the name of ‘progress’? To better understand the social impact of events like the Grand Inter-State Exposition, one might consult newspapers, pamphlets, and other period documents. By placing the image in the context of the time we can analyze what it reveals about the values and power dynamics of 19th-century America.