Blackfoot Indian encampment and Fort Dewlawn

Photograph by Edward J Ashenden of diorama (at Chicago World's Fair) entitled Blackfoot Indian encampment and Fort Dewlawn. 1934

Photograph of diorama (at Chicago World's Fair) entitled Blackfoot Indian encampment and Fort Dewlawn.

Held in Chicago, Illinois, USA, between 1933 and 1934, the Chicago World’s Fair, officially known as A Century of Progress International Exposition, celebrated the city’s centennial while showcasing achievements in science, industry, innovation, and modern design. Its motto, “Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Conforms,” reflected its focus on technological progress and the impact of modern industry on everyday life. The fair’s most recognisable landmark was the Sky Ride, while its pavilions epitomised the bold Art Deco style and modern architecture of the era.

Visitors explored 82 miles of exhibits across a 427-acre site, featuring the latest scientific discoveries, technological advances, and visions of the future. During its two-year run, the fair attracted more than 39 million visitors.

Native Peoples at the 1893 World’s Fair

At the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, anthropologist Frederic Putnam used the Anthropology Building and the American Indian Village to present Indigenous peoples as belonging to the past. Yet this narrative was challenged by the many Native people living and working at the fair. The village included Kwak-waka’wakw, Penobscot, Haudenosaunee, Seminole and Diné participants, whose experiences varied widely. While some earned wages and sold their work, others faced exploitation and received little or no payment.