Summer 2010

Chicago Park District History

Memories of the 1933-34 World's Fair in Chicago

From the shadows of the Great Depression, A Century of Progress, Chicago's second world's fair, dazzled the nation in 1933 and 1934. Celebrating the centennial of Chicago's founding, the fair featured achievements in science and technology through exhibits that included a voice controlled robot, baby incubators and an automobile production line. The brightly colored and gleaming fairgrounds were located on the lakefront in Burnham Park and Northerly Island. Join five Chicagoans Sam Guard, V.K. Brown Jr., Peggy Carr, Dina Rosen, and Leon Despres are five Chicagoans who attended fair, and listen to their reflections while viewing photographs of this historic event.

Memories of Sam Guard

Memories from Sam Guard who attended the 1933-34 World's Fair in Chicago, which was called A Century of Progress. This major event took place at Northerly Island and Burnham Park.

Memories of V.K. Brown Jr.

Memories from V.K. Brown Jr. who attended the 1933-34 World's Fair in Chicago, which was called A Century of Progress. This major event took place at Northerly Island and Burnham Park.

Memories of Dina Rosen

Memories from Dina Rosen who attended the 1933-34 World's Fair in Chicago, which was called A Century of Progress. This major event took place at Northerly Island and Burnham Park.

Memories of Peggy Carr

Memories from Peggy Carr who attended the 1933-34 World's Fair in Chicago, which was called A Century of Progress. This major event took place at Northerly Island and Burnham Park.

Memories of Leon Depres

Memories from Leon Depres who attended the 1933-34 World's Fair in Chicago, which was called A Century of Progress. This major event took place at Northerly Island and Burnham Park.

The images shown with the interviews were provided courtesy of:

Chicago Park District Special Collections
Chicago History Museum
University of Illinois at Chicago Library, Century of Progress Records 1927- 1952
Mr. Sam Guard
Mrs. Peggy Carr

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