The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair: When America Invented the Future Part 1 – Dreams of Future Past, Episode 3

The 1893 Chicago World’s FairWhen America Invented the Future

Dreams of Future Past, Episode 3: Imagine a world’s fair that introduced the Ferris Wheel, hamburgers, spray paint, and electric light, all in one place. The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, also known as the “White City,” put American innovation on the global stage, dazzling visitors with technology, architecture, and ideas that would shape the 20th century. It was part CES, part Olympics, and all spectacle.

There is so much to the fair that we had to break it up into two parts. In Part 1, we dive into the history and drama behind the fair and the futuristic ideas it showcased across electricity, architecture, food and much more! Join us as we cover the many dreams of the future at the fair which have become our everyday reality, including:

• A showcase of America’s manufacturing muscle and growing industrial power.
• The turning point from steam to electricity, featuring AC vs. DC showdowns between Tesla/Westinghouse and Edison.
• The Ferris Wheel as America’s answer to the Eiffel Tower.
• Moving Walkways as the ancestor of airport travelators and Disney’s Wedway movers.

Throughout history, people have imagined what the future might look like — sometimes in bold visions, sometimes in whimsical predictions. Dreams of a Future Past is a podcast that explores how humanity has dreamed of the future through movies, technology, philosophy, and design.

With an upbeat, conversational tone, the show will dive into iconic retro-futurist moments — from concept cars and world’s fairs, to sci-fi films and technology — and ask: what came true, what never did, and why? Along the way, listeners will discover the stories of inventors, businesspeople, and dreamers who helped shape our imagination of tomorrow.

Join McKay, Greg and Ian as they geek out over the future. What once was thought possible, and getting inspired by what might still be to come...