World's Columbian Exposition Souvenir Bookmark, Home Sweet Home: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Souvenir bookmark commemorating the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. Bookmark features the lyrics to the song Home Sweet Home .

The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition was an assertive statement about American culture and identity. Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World. The fair was created by American business, political and artistic leaders to exhibit American progress and to proclaim America's arrival as an economic and cultural force on the world scene. The Columbian Exposition's centerpiece was the remarkable Ferris Wheel, invented and designed to challenge the 1889 Paris Exposition's Eiffel Tower as the world's most modern wonder. The Fair was an enormous success, having 27 million visitors during its May through October run.

In addition to exhibits relating to agriculture, science and industry, the Fair hosted a variety of cultural displays, including an exhibit of American art and performances from artists such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and John Philip Sousa. The exotic Midway attractions featured performers such as ragtime pianist Scott Joplin and the dancer Little Egypt.

The African American community was essentially excluded except as performers and for the allowance of a single day for coloreds only. Black leaders disagreed on the proper response to this slight, some encouraging participation, while others demanding a change in policy, continuing America's ongoing national discussion about racial representation and exclusion.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1893
• associated dates: 1893 05 01 / 1893 05 01, 1893 10 30 / 1893 10 30
• Object Name: Bookmark
• Other Terms: Bookmark; Commemorative
• Physical Description: silk (overall material)
• Physical Description: black (overall color)
• Physical Description: red (overall color)
• Physical Description: white (overall color)
• Physical Description: gold (overall color)
• Physical Description: green (overall color)
• Measurements: average spatial: 11 in x 2 1/2 in; 27.94 cm x 6.35 cm
• place made: United States: Illinois, Chicago
• Subject: Expositions and Fairs
• Subject: Music
• related event: World's Columbian Exposition
• ID Number: 1989.0438.0540
• catalog number: 1989.0438.0540
• accession number: 1989.0438
• catalog number: 1893BK02
• Credit Line: The Larry Zim World's Fair Collection
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.