Fair America: World's Fairs in the United States [Hardcover]

Robert W. Rydell (Author), John E. Findling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 2000

Since their inception in the mid-19th century, World Fairs have introduced Americans to exotic pleasures, like belly dancing and the ferris wheel, and groundbreaking technologies such as telephones and x-rays. Profiling more than 30 fairs from 1853 to 1984, the authors demonstrate how the fairs reflected and influenced the ideals and complexities of their times. Includes archival photo of exhibits and souvenirs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Not mere "encyclopedias of civilization," world's fairs galvanized national support for social reunification after the Civil War, celebrated the U.S. imperial expansionism that followed, generated consumer optimism during the Great Depression, and promoted the essential unity of humankind in the nuclear age. Rydell (history, Montana State Univ.; All the World's a Fair and World of Fairs), John Findling (history, Indiana Univ. Southeast; Chicago's Great World's Fairs) and Kimberly Pelle (admissions, Indiana Univ. Southeast; Historical Dictionary of World's Fairs and Expositions) show that world's fairs have not only showcased cultural and technological aspects of society but have "contribute[d] to the cultural milieu of societies that have hosted them." Filled with archival photographs and boasting a section of extensive notes, Fair America examines and documents 30 world's fairs from 1853 to 1984. It would seem to be the definitive work, exploring the intentions of organizers, the perceptions of audiences, and the way minorities challenged stereotypes at each fair. Any school, public, or academic library would welcome this systematic work.DKay Meredith Dushek, Anamosa, IA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Filled with archival photographs and boasting a section of extensive notes, Fair America examines and documents 30 world's fairs from 1853 to 1984. It would seem to be the definitive work, exploring the intentions of organizers, the perceptions of audiences, and the way minorities challenged stereotypes at each fair. Any school, public, or academic library would welcome this systematic work.”—Library Journal --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books; 1st edition (March 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560989688
• ISBN-13: 978-1560989684
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,395,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Review!!!!!, August 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fair America (Paperback)

Rydell, Findling, and Pelle do a wonderful job of describing the influences that helped shape the World's Fairs and expositions held in the United States between 1853 and 1984. Initially designed to boost local economies, the fair promoters gradually shifted to more national agendas; imperialism, cold war, and capitalism. The book is a great resource for those not aware of how much impact these fairs have had on our country's development!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on U.S. world's fairs, April 25, 2010

By 

Dion (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fair America (Paperback)

"Fair America" is an excellent book that lets you know all about the world's fair movement in the United States. I'm interested in world's fairs, but didn't know too much about them. "Fair America" is a great go to resource about the impact the world's fair movement has had on the United States. The book is easy to read and is filled with pictures from world's fairs between 1853 and 1984. The writers of this book really did an excellent job.

Reading this book, you realize what an important impact the world's fair has had on the United States of America. "Fair America" tells us that the American fair has awed hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people. It is really too bad then to realize today what we miss by not hosting world's fairs. The last U.S. world's fair was way back in 1984. Between 1853 and 1984, the United States hosted more world's fairs than any other country, which is still true today.

It's time for the United States to host a world's fair again in 2020. However, bidding for a sanctioned 2020 world's fair opens in 2011. Do something about it now though- and sign the petition at:

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