CENTURY OF PROGRESS EXPOSITION
1933-1934
CHICAGO, IL
Purpose: To establish both centennial of Chicago as municipality and "century of progress" in science, engineering and technology.
Organization: Our second largest exposition; company chartered 1930, bonds sold to public. This was unique World's Fair venture because (1) no governmental subsidies were sought or accepted; (2) despite national depression, it was financial success--only international exposition to pay its debts, reimburse its bond holders in full plus interest and still have cash surplus at closing. All this at cost of over $50,000,000.
Site: Over 400 acres on shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago's southside; then and now part of city's public parks system.
Dates, Attendance: May 27 to Nov. 12, 1933 and 1934. Total attendance over 39,000,000 paid.
Participants: Practically all states and territories; many housed exhibits in giant Hall of States; others erected own buildings; Tremendous industrial representation but, by comparison, "poor support" by foreign countries. While no financial aid sought from Congress, United States did erect $1,000,000 Federal Building; extensive national displays included Mint Exhibit.
Comment: Dozen major palaces and 200 other buildings designed for "honest functioning." Architecture was "ultramodern," complete departure from past "following no pattern...of former expositions; depended on simple planes, color and lighting for character and effectiveness"; outstanding feature was color, with little ornamentation or decoration. All emphasis given to scientific and industrial progress; Hall of Science, 80 acres, was focal point. At other extreme, Sally Rand's show grossed $1,500,000 in 1933 alone!
Medals: Official Medals struck in Mint Exhibit on grounds; designed by Emil Robert Zettler, sculptor and head of Industrial Art Section of Chicago's Art Institute. Artist obtained design patent D90,162 for his medallic design June 20, 1933. Dies were produced by Medallic Art Co. in New York City, but contract to strike the medals was awarded to Crowe, a metalworking firm in Chicago. Issued in 2 3/4 in., 2 1/4 in., and 1 1/2 in. sizes; only last qualifies for listing here. Two larger sizes were struck for both years, second year's issue bearing "1934 edition" on reverse, but 1 1/2 in. medal is known only in 1933 issue. On obverse, male figure is symbol of energy and action; represents intellectual arch between man's resources and man's work; words "Research" and "Industry" Fair's Theme.
OFFICIAL MEDAL
Obv. Full male figure, nude with flowing loin-cloth, outspread arms and legs, on top of and astride pillars; under r. foot 1833, under l. foot 1933; under r. hand, vertical Research, © to lower l., leaves above hand; under l. hand, vertical Industry, below is microscopic E R Z, above hand is small graph.
Rev. Relief map of Exposition grounds and lake, above is directional N arrow, to l. is small vertical Zettler (designer)--all within large center circle; outside around A - Century - of - Progress - International - Exposition - Chicago - 1933 -
HK-463 Bronze. 38mm.