1892 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois For Sale

xxxx serial-numbered stock certificate for one share of the World's Columbian Exposition. The Western Bank Note Company printed this historic document, which contains an ornate border. In upper left corner is a vignette of a majestic allegorical woman wearing a flowing gown and flying over a city with buildings, ships and trains in the background. Embossed seal in lower left corner says "Organized August 14, xxxx." There is also a beautiful underprint of the Exposition's fairgrounds. Green colors throughout closely mimic green shades found on a new dollar bill. $10 stated par value, signed by W.T. Baker, Corp. President. Backside contains boilerplate stock certificate ownership transfer language, but no handwriting. Measures 8 1/4 X 12 3/8 inches. Very good condition except for folds. No rips or tears. Document still has much of its original crispness.
The World's Columbian Exposition, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's landing in America, was actually held in xxxx, a year later than had been planned. New York City, Washington, D.C., St.Louis, and Chicago had all vied for the honor of housing the exposition, and it was during this vigorous and often vocal competition that Charles A. Dana, editor of the New York Sun, dubbed Chicago "that windy city." Chicago's lobbyists finally won out and, on April 25, xxxx, President Benjamin Harrison signed the act that designated Chicago as the site of the exposition. It took three frantic years of preparation and work to produce the exposition. Although dedication ceremonies were held on October 21, xxxx, the fairgrounds were not opened to the public until May 1, xxxx. The exposition closed on October 30, xxxx.
The exposition occupied 630 acres in Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance. The main site was bounded by Stony Island Avenue on the west, 67th Street on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, and 56th Street on the north. The Midway Plaisance, a narrow strip of land between 59th and 60th Streets, extends west from Stony Island to Cottage Grove Avenue. The world's first Ferris Wheel (inventor George W. Ferris) was located on the Midway. The 250-foot high steel structure had 36 cars carrying 60 persons each. (Years later the Chicago Bears played home games at Midway Plaisance, hence the nickname Monsters of the Midway.)
More than 200 buildings occupied the exposition's grounds; today, only one remains: the Palace of Fine Arts, which was gutted, rehabbed, and re-opened to the public as the Museum of Science and Industry in xxxx. Forty-six nations participated in the exposition, which cost $28,340,700. There were 25,836,073 admissions to the fair (21,480,141 of which were paid). Adult admission price was fifty cents.