Why world's fairs continue to impress — even after more than 200 years

By Lauren Gilger
Published: Tuesday, April 5, 2022 - 1:34pm
Updated: Tuesday, April 5, 2022 - 3:05pm

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globe sculpture created for the 1964-65 World
Getty Images
A globe sculpture created for the 1964-65 World's fair in New York.

Musical fans might remember the final scene from the 1944 Judy Garland classic, “Meet Me in St. Louis." 

It takes place at the opening of the 1904 world’s fair in St. Louis, where organizers built what was essentially a city on what was a swamp near the city. But it turns out, world’s fairs, or expos as they’re called now, are still going on. In fact, one just wrapped up last month in Dubai.

Lisa Schrenk is an associate professor of architectural history at the University of Arizona, and she's something of an expert on world’s fairs. She recently held a symposium on the topic and even visited Dubai’s latest edition. The Show spoke with her to learn about modern fairs and learn some history, beginning with the first world’s fair in London.

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