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Chicago Railroad Fair photographs and postcards

Creation: 1948-1949
 Collection
Accession: 1998-244

Abstract

The Chicago Railroad Fair was the last exposition that featured railroads as its theme. It marked the centennial of the arrival of railroads to Chicago and their role in westward expansion. The exposition was held in 1948 and 1949 in Chicago. This collection consists of souvenir postcards and miniature photographic views of the buildings and locomotives at the Fair.

Dates

  • Creation: 1948-1949

Creator

Extent

13 item(s)

General Physical Description

5 photographic prints : postcards, b&w ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. 8 photographic prints : b&w ; 2.5 x 3.5 in.

Historical Note

The Chicago Railroad Fair was the first exposition after the Second World War and the last exposition that featured railroads as its theme. It marked the centennial of the arrival of railroads to Chicago and their role in westward expansion. The exposition was held in 1948 and 1949 in Burnham Park on the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago. Almost forty railroads and many railroad equipment manufacturers participated. Exhibits included locomotives; rail cars; the narrow gauge Deadwood Central, which rode visitors around the exposition site; theme park attractions, and a Native American village. The Wheels a-Rolling pageant was the main attraction and traced the history of transportation across the continent with an emphasis on railroads.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of souvenir postcards and miniature photographic views of the buildings and locomotives at the Chicago Railroad Fair, held in 1948 and 1949.

Location

GL Box 1.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Chicago Railroad Fair photographs and postcards
Date:
2015
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400