World’s fairs have long served as global showcases for innovation, culture, and progress. These international expositions brought together nations to display advancements in technology, industry, art, and science, often reflecting the aspirations and challenges of their times. Iconic inventions—such as the telephone, the Ferris wheel, and television—were introduced to the world, while cross-cultural exchange and collaboration flourished.
Beyond technological marvels, these fairs embodied a sense of optimism, inspiring societies to imagine what could be achieved through human ingenuity and cooperation. They fostered national pride, promoted modernization, and expressed a collective yearning for peace and unity.
Art historian Jennie Hirsh delves into three pivotal world’s fairs, examining how these landmark events showcased their eras’ most groundbreaking achievements in technology, culture, art, and architecture.
Session Information
Paris, 1900: The Exposition Universelle
The largest world's fair held to date, the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle was a pivotal event that bridged the 19th and 20th centuries. Led by Alfred Picard, head of the fair's governing commission, this exposition that attracted over 50 million visitors introduced a range of monumental architectural projects, many of which continue to shape the skyline of Paris today. Under Picard’s guidance, iconic structures such as the Grand Palais, designed by Henri Deglane, Louis-Albert Louvet, and Albert Thomas; the Petit Palais by Charles-Louis Girault; and the Pont Alexandre III became permanent fixtures, transforming the city’s landscape.
Hirsh delves into the lasting significance of these architectural marvels, along with the displays presented in the national pavilions of more than 40 participating countries. She also examines the controversial Porte Monumentale, a dramatic entrance to the fair designed by René Binet, and key Art Nouveau buildings, including the Gare d'Orsay train and hotel complex created to support fairgoers’ travel and lodging needs. Hector Guimard’s Métro stations, with their unmistakable organic style, further solidified the fair’s legacy. Highlighting groundbreaking technological innovations, the Exposition Universelle also showcased fine and decorative arts, with exhibitions held in the Grand Palais, Petit Palais, and the Vincennes annex. Hirsh provides a virtual tour of this world’s fair, one of the most influential in history, illustrating how it both reflected the past and embraced the promise of new technologies.
Additional Sessions of the Age of World's Fairs Series
General Information
