Columbian Exposition Stereoviews

Photographed and Published
by Benjamin W. Kilburn Littleton, New Hampshire, USA

At the right 716,881 people attended the World's Columbian
Exposition for "Chicago Day," October 9, 1893.
This day commemorated the anniversary of the
Great Chicago Fire of 1871. [cick on images for sources and details]

Background: The World's Columbian Exposition [ see wikipedia links ], celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's landing in America, was actually held in 1893, a year later than had been planned. New York City, Washington, D.C., St.Louis, and Chicago had all vied for the honor of housing the exposition, and it was during this vigorous and often vocal competition that Charles A. Dana, editor of the New York Sun, dubbed Chicago "that windy city." Chicago's lobbyists finally won out and, on April 25, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the act that designated Chicago as the site of the exposition. It took three frantic years of preparation and work to produce the exposition. Although dedication ceremonies were held on October 21, 1892, the fairgrounds were not opened to the public until May 1, 1893. The exposition closed on October 30, 1893.

Lithograph advertising the Chicago Day
celebration at the fair which commemorated
the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
(CHS ICHi 14835)

Location: The exposition occupied 630 acres in Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance. The main site was bounded by Stony Island Avenue on the west, 67th Street on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, and 56th Street on the north. The Midway Plaisance, a narrow strip of land between 59th and 60th Streets, extends west from Stony Island to Cottage Grove Avenue. See the CD guide for description of Chicago at that time.




Stereoviews Published by

B. W. Kilburn
Littleton, N. H.





View the photographic story of the Columbian World's Fair on a CD
to glimpse a part of the volume and scope
of Benjamin W. Kilburn stereoscopic views.






B. W. Kilburn photographers: William Greenleaf, Harry Gordon, John P. Prescott and Buel Daniels and others were in Chicago from March thru November of 1893. Benjamin W. Kilburn, of Littleton, NH commuted to the Chicago fairgrounds to acquire negatives during this event, and at the same time supervised the expansion of his stereoscopic factory in Littleton, NH. He had a competent, experienced, professional staff. His employees grew in number from less than sixty to over 100 to accommodate sales. The official fair photographic department allows the B. W. Kilburn company a most modern facility in which to process and produce stereoscopic views while on site in Chicago.

It is entirely possible that his regular Littleton employees were sent to attend the fair at various times and for extended durations to assist the photographic department. The main production effort for the B. W. Kilburn business remained in Littleton, NH.

The B. W. Kilburn firm was among the few photographic firms who regularly sent their views to the U S Library of Congress. For good reason Kilburn's firm was asked to testify before Congress in 1905 to argue for the establishment of modern US copyright law.

Historic and view details can be found in photographic collections at the New York Public Library, the Library of Congress, and among the Kilburn negatives located in the Keystone - Mast Collection at the University of California, Riverside. The negatives and images will offer a more complete history of this time. The Littleton Public Library of Littleton, NH also has an extensive salesman's kit of contemporary views in fine condition, a gift of the Kilburn family.






A sample of Kilburn stereoview topics from this collection.







Click on pages for links and to see detail.

Stereoviews: [ 7880 ] [ 7882 ] [ 7883 ] [ 7888 ]

[ 7928 ] [ 7929 ] [ 7932 ]



A Sample Note (1 of 60+ pages): Recording the details of history and sharing memories.
Click on highlighted text and images to find additional details, sources, and links.

The CD is a web based presentation; for best viewing, you will need an internet connection.

External Links below; or order the Columbian Expo CD -



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