(England Twitter)-World's Fair, World Fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo (expo short for "exposition"), are names given to various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom in 1851 under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations". "The Great Exhibition", as it is often called, was an idea of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, and was the first international exhibition of manufactured products. As such, it influenced the development of several aspects of society including art and design education, international trade and relations, and even tourism. Also, it was the precedent for the many international exhibitions, later called "World's Fairs", which were subsequently held to the present day. In Acapulco, New Spain (Mexico), annual fairs took place for several centuries where countries from Asia exhibited their products brought to the New World by the Spanish Royal Navy Nao de China.
The main attractions at World's Fairs are the national pavilions, created by participating countries. At Expo 2000 Hannover, where countries created their own architecture, the average pavilion investment was around €13 million.[citation needed] Given these costs, governments are sometimes skeptical about participation as benefits are often assumed not to outweigh the costs. Tangible effects are difficult to measure; however, an independent study for the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2000 estimated the pavilion (which cost around €35 million) generated around €350 million of potential revenues for the Dutch economy. It also identified several key success factors for world exposition pavilions in general.
Since the entering into force of the 1928 Convention relating to International Exhibitions, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE; English: International Exhibitions Bureau) has served as an international sanctioning body. BIE-approved fairs are divided into a number of types: universal, international or specialized. They usually last between three weeks and six months.
History
Further information: List of world's fairs
World's Fairs originated in the French tradition of national exhibitions, a tradition that culminated with the French Industrial Exposition of 1844 held in Paris. It was soon followed by other national exhibitions in continental Europe, and finally came to London where the first real international exhibition was held on May 1, 1851.
Since their inception in 1851, the character of world expositions has evolved. Three eras can be distinguished: the era of industrialization, the era of cultural exchange, and the era of nation branding.
Industrialization (1851–1938)
The first era could be called the era of 'industrialization' and covered, roughly, the period from 1800 to 1938. In these days, world expositions were especially focused on trade and famous for the display of technological inventions and advancements. World expositions were the platform where the state of the art in science and technology from around the world was brought together. The world expositions of 1851 London, 1862 London, 1889 Paris, 1893 Chicago, 1900 Paris, 1901 Buffalo, 1904 St. Louis and 1915 San Francisco exhibitions can be called landmarks in this respect.
Cultural exchange (1939–1987)
The international exhibition in New York City in 1939–1940 presented a departure from the original focus of the expositions. From then on, World's Fairs became more strongly based on a specific theme of cultural significance, and began to address issues of humankind. They became more future oriented and 'utopian' in scope. Technology and inventions remained important, but no longer as the principal subjects of the Fair. "Building The World of Tomorrow" (New York, 1939–40), "Peace Through Understanding" (New York, 1964–65) and "Man and His World" (Montreal, 1967) are examples of these 'new' themes. Cross-cultural dialogue and the exchange of solutions became defining elements of the expos.
Nation branding (1988–present)
From Expo '88 in Brisbane onwards, countries started to use World Expositions more widely and more strongly as a platform to improve their national images through their pavilions. Finland, Japan, Canada, France and Spain are cases in point. A large study by Tjaco Walvis called "Expo 2000 Hanover in Numbers" showed that improving national image was the primary participation goal for 73% of the countries at Expo 2000. In a world where a strong national image is a key asset, pavilions became advertising campaigns, and the Expo a vehicle for 'nation branding'. Apart from cultural and symbolic reasons, organizing countries (and the cities and regions hosting them) also utilize the world exposition to brand themselves. According to branding expert Wally Olins, Spain used Expo '92 and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona in the same year to underline its new position as a modern and democratic country and present itself as a prominent member of the European Union and the global community.
Types
Presently, there are two types of world expositions: registered and recognized (sometimes unofficially known as "major" and "minor" fairs, respectively). Registered exhibitions are the biggest category events. Previously, registered expositions were called "Universal Expositions". Even though this name lingers on in public memory, it is no longer in use as an official term. At registered exhibitions, participants generally build their own pavilions. They are therefore the most extravagant and most expensive expos. Their duration may be between six weeks and six months. Since 1995, the interval between two registered expositions has been at least five years. Most recently, the registered exposition Expo 2010 in Shanghai was held from May 1 through November 1, 2010.
Registered Expositions" or Universal Expositions
Universal Expositions encompass universal themes that affect the full gamut of human experience, and international and corporate participants are required to adhere to the theme in their representations. Universal expositions are usually held less frequently than specialized or international expositions because they are more expensive as they require total design of pavilion buildings from the ground up. As a result, nations compete for the most outstanding or memorable structure—recent examples include Japan, France, Morocco & Spain at Expo '92. Recent Universal Expositions include Brussels Expo '58, Montreal Expo 67, Osaka Expo '70, and Seville Expo '92. Sometimes prefabricated structures are also used to minimize costs for developing countries or for countries from a geographical block to share space (i.e. Plaza of the Americas at Seville '92).
"Recognized Expositions" or International or Specialized Expositions
International expositions are usually united by a common theme—such as Transportation (Vancouver Expo 86), or, 'Leisure in the Age of Technology' (Brisbane, Expo '88). Such themes are narrower than the wider scope of Universal expositions.
Specialized and international expositions are usually smaller in scale and cheaper to run for the host committee and participants because the architectural fees are lower and they only have to rent the space from the host committee, usually with the prefabricated structure already completed. Countries then have the option of 'adding' their own colours, design etc. to the outside of the prefabricated structure and filling in the inside with their own content. One example of this is China, which has often chosen to add a Chinese archway in the front of its prefabricated pavilions to symbolize the nation (Expo '88, Expo '92, Expo '93).
Aftermath
The majority of the structures are temporary, and are dismantled at the end of the expo. Towers from several of these fairs are notable exceptions. By far the most famous of these is the Eiffel Tower, built for the Exposition Universelle (1889), which is now the most recognized symbol of its host city Paris. Some critics of the time wanted the tower dismantled after the fair's conclusion.
Other major structures that were held over from these fairs:
The Crystal Palace, from the first World's Fair in London in 1851, chosen because it could be recycled to recoup losses, was such a success that it was moved and intended to be permanent, only to be destroyed by a fire (of its contents) in 1936.
The 1876 Centennial Exposition's main building is still in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, and serving as the new home for the Please Touch Museum
The World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, constructed for the Melbourne International Exhibition (1880).
The Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago), originally the Beaux-Arts Building for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, remains one of the most famous buildings of Chicago architecture today.
The New York State pavilion at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition remains today as the home of the Buffalo Historical Society, and is set in grounds originally laid out by Frederick Law Olmstead. Across the man made lake on the Scajaquada River is the Albright-Knox Museum, originally intended as the Beaux Arts Exhibition Hall, but not completed in time for the exhibition.
The St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park was originally the Palace of the Fine Arts and Brookings Hall at Washington University, are remnants of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition also known as the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair. The aviary in Forest Park gave root to the St. Louis Zoo.
The landscaping (by the Olmsted brothers) from the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle still forms much of the University of Washington campus. The only major building left from the AYPE, Architecture Hall, is used by the UW architecture school.
The famous German pavilion designed by Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 Barcelona expo was destroyed, but later recreated on the original site
In Brussels, the Atomium still stands at the site of the 1958 exposition. It is a 165-billion-times enlarged Iron-Atom shaped building.
The Space Needle in Seattle was the symbol of the 1962 World's Fair, and the US pavilion from that fair became the Pacific Science Center. The Seattle Center Monorail still operates daily.
The Unisphere in Queens New York still remains from the 1964 World's Fair
In Vancouver, many Expo 86 projects were designed as legacy projects, of note are the Skytrain, Science World and Canada Place.
The main buildings of Expo '98, in Lisbon, were completely integrated in the city itself and many of the art exhibition pieces still remain.
San Francisco Exploratoreum.
Other outstanding exceptions:
The remains of Expo '29 in Seville where the 'Plaza de España' forms part of a large park and forecourt, and many of the pavilions have become offices for Consulate-Generals.
An elevated railway with trains running at short intervals was built for the Milan 1906 expo. It linked the fair to the city centre. It was dismantled in the 1920s.
The aquarium of Milan Expo '06 (1906) was built for the fair and after 100 years is still open and was recently renovated.
The ICOH (International Commission on Occupational Health), was settled in Milan during the Expo '06 and had the first congress in the Expo pavilions. In June 2006 the ICOH celebrated the first century of life in Milan.
The pavilions of Expo '92 in Seville had been reconverted into a technological square and a theme park.
The M. H. de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park was a survivor of the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition until it was replaced with a larger building.
The rebuilt Palace of Fine Arts is all that remains from the 1915 San Francisco Panama-Pacific International Exposition. This can be seen on the fair grounds near the Golden Gate Bridge.
San Antonio kept intact the Tower of the Americas, the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Convention Center from HemisFair '68.
Among the structures still standing from Expo 67 in Montreal are Moshe Safdie's Habitat 67, Buckminster Fuller's American pavilion, and the French pavilion (now the Montreal Casino).
The Sunsphere remains as a figure in the Knoxville skyline, left from the 1982 World's Fair.
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is housed in the one of the last remaining building of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, which had been the Palace of Fine Arts. The intent or hope was to make all Columbian structures permanent, but most of the structures burned, possibly the result of arson during the Pullman Strike. Another survivor is the Norway pavilion, a small house located at a museum in Wisconsin. However, the foundation of the world's first Ferris wheel, which operated at the Exposition, was unearthed on the Chicago Midway during a construction project by the University of Chicago, whose campus now surrounds the Midway. Finally, a third remaining building is the Maine State Building, now housed at the Poland Springs Resort, in Poland Springs, Maine.
The Skyneedle, the symbol tower of Brisbane's World Expo '88, as well as the Nepal Peace Pagoda of the Nepalese representation, now at the transformed World Expo '88 site South Bank Parklands, and the Japan Pond and Garden from the Japanese representation, now at the Brisbane Mount Cooth-tha Botanic Gardens remain from Expo '88 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
A particular case is the EUR quarter in Rome, built for a World's Fair planned for 1942, was never used for its intended purpose, because of World War II, and today hosts various offices, governmental or private, and some museums.
The "American Theatre" on the Brussels Expo in 1958 is now frequently used as a television studio by the VRT.
The home of Satsuki & Mei Kusakabe, built for the 2005 Expo in Aichi, remains operating at its original site in Morikoro Park and is a popular tourist attraction.
Some World's Fair sites became (or reverted to) parks incorporating some of the expo elements, such as:
Audubon Park, New Orleans: Site of New Orleans's World Cotton Centennial in 1884
Jackson Park, Chicago and the Chicago Midway: Site of the 1893 Columbian Exposition
Nashville: Tennessee Centennial Expo
Forest Park, Saint Louis: Home of the Saint Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904
San Diego: Panama-California Exposition (1915) & California Pacific International Exposition (1935)
Seattle: Century 21 Exposition
Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, New York City: Site of both the 1939/1940 and 1964/1965 New York World's Fairs
Montreal: Expo 67
San Antonio: HemisFair '68
Expo Commemoration Park, Osaka: Expo '70
Spokane: Expo '74
World's Fair Park, Knoxville: 1982 World's Fair
Vancouver: Expo 86
Brisbane: Expo '88: now represented with the South Bank Parklands
Seville: Expo '92
Daejeon (Taejŏn): Expo '93
Lisbon: Expo '98 which was divided in several structures, namely Pavilhão Atlântico, Casino Lisboa, Oceanário and Pavilhão da Ciência.
Some pavilions have been moved overseas intact:
The Argentinian Pavilion from the 1889 Paris is now in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Chilean Pavilion from 1889 Paris is now in Santiago, Chile and following significant refurbishment in 1992 functions as the Museo Artequin
The Japanese Tower of the 1900 World's Fair in Paris was relocated to Laken (Brussels) on request of King Leopold II of Belgium.
The Belgium Pavilion from the 1939 New York World's Fair was relocated to Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.
The USSR Pavilion from Expo 67 is now in Moscow.
The Sanyo Pavilion from Expo '70 is the Asian Centre at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
The Portugal Pavilion from Expo 2000 is now in Coimbra, Portugal.
The Brussels Expo '58 relocated many pavilions within Belgium: the pavilion of Jacques Chocolats moved to the town of Diest to house the new town swimming pool. Another pavilion was relocated to Willebroek and has been used as dance hall Carré ever since. One smaller pavilion still stands on the impressive boulevard towards the Atomium: the restaurant "Salon 58" in the pavilion of Comptoir Tuilier.
Many exhibitions and rides created by Walt Disney and his WED Enterprises company for the 1964 New York World's Fair (which was held over into 1965) were moved to Disneyland after the closing of the Fair. Many of the rides, including "it's a small world", "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln", and "Carousel of Progress" (since moved to the Walt Disney World Resort and updated), are still in operation.
Disney had contributed so many exhibits to the New York fair in part because the corporation had originally envisioned a "permanent World's Fair" at the Flushing site. That concept instead came to fruition with the Disney theme park Epcot, an extension of the Walt Disney World Resort, near Orlando, Florida. Epcot has many of the characteristics of a typical Universal Exposition: national pavilions, as well as exhibits concerning technology and/or the future, along with more typical amusement park rides. Meanwhile, several of the 1964 attractions, relocated to Disneyland, have been duplicated at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Occasionally other bits and pieces of the Fairs remain. In the New York subway system, signs directing people to Flushing Meadows, Queens remain from the 1964–65 event. In the Montreal subway at least one tile artwork of its theme, "Man and His World", remains. Also, a seemingly endless supply of souvenir items from Fair visits can be found, and in the United States, at least, can often be bought at garage or estate sales. Many of these events also produced postage stamps and commemorative coins. The 1904 Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, were held in conjunction with the 1904 St. Louis Fair, although no particular tie-in seems to have been made.
