1851–1915 · 10 expositions
The Fairs
White cities raised in months, lit up for a season, then torn down or burned. Here are the photos, the dates on record, and the questions worth asking about what was really standing there.
- 1851
London, UKThe Great ExhibitionThe Crystal Palace was moved to Sydenham in 1852–54 and burned down in 1936. - 1876
Philadelphia, USACentennial ExpositionMemorial Hall still stands. - 1889
Paris, FranceExposition UniverselleThe Eiffel Tower survives. - 1893
Chicago, USAWorld's Columbian ExpositionMost palaces burned in 1894 or were cleared. - 1895
Atlanta, USACotton States and International ExpositionThe buildings were demolished. - 1897
Nashville, USATennessee Centennial and International ExpositionThe full-size Parthenon was rebuilt in concrete in 1920–31 and still stands. - 1898
Omaha, USATrans-Mississippi and International ExpositionEvery main building was demolished, and the site is now a city park and homes. - 1901
Buffalo, USAPan-American ExpositionEverything came down except the New York State Building, now the Buffalo History Museum. - 1904
St. Louis, USALouisiana Purchase ExpositionThe Palace of Fine Arts survives as the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Flight Cage is still at the zoo. - 1915
San Francisco, USAPanama-Pacific International ExpositionThe Palace of Fine Arts survives, rebuilt in concrete in the 1960s.
Still standing
Old World buildings
15 city halls, palaces, stations, and asylums from the same era, many still in use.
Explore the Old WorldResearch