Lately I've become wholly obsessed with Erik Larson's "The devil in the White City." There isn't enough time in the day for me to get through it as quickly as I'd like, but every time I get the chance to read it I fall deeper for Chicago. In part the documented process of mounting the World's Fair to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus' landing in the US, partly the (seemingly) untold story of one of the worst mass murderers in Chicago history, it is proving an engaging read.
The book is meticulously researched, with fascinating references to correspondences of the major players involved in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, as well as letters and documented interviews from families and friends of various women murdered by the serial killer that honed his skills at the same time. It really puts into perspective how important that Expo was to the advancement of the US's, and more specifically Chicago's, stature in architecture and engineering. The chaos of the endeavour to get it all done in less than 3 years is astonishing.
The pledge of allegiance that school children had to recite (and maybe still do?) came from the dedication of the Expo. The Ferris wheel was developed for the Expo. GE incandescent lighting was used for the first time in major public buildings. The first female graduate of the architecture school at MIT designed a major building for the fair on her own entirely, something previously never allowed in architecture. Cracker Jack, Aunt Jemima syrup, Juicy Fruit, hamburgers and soda pop, and (a personal favourite trivial note) Pabst beer were all introduced at the Expo.
The serial killer parts are more shocking than anything. This was around the time of Jack the Ripper, who is known to have killed 5 women. Have you ever heard of Dr. H.H. Holmes? I'm halfway through and he's already murdered at least 10 people by name, with the implication that he murdered potentially hordes of unnamed women he hired to work in his businesses who simply disappeared. Where I am the Exposition hasn't even begun, which is presumably the height of his murder spree.
The 13-page index and 32 pages of sources make my nerd heart squeal.
I'm beginning to wonder if I would feel so passionately about a different city if it were as well-documented as Chicago. The next time I visit (hopefully this year yet) I believe I have a date with the Graceland Cemetery and will stop into the bookstore at the Chicago History Museum to stock my personal library with more Chicago propaganda.
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