"Tesla and Westinghouse Power America - The 1893 Chicago World's Fair"

This composite of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, commonly called, "The Chicago World's Fair," is recognized as the beginning of the 20th Century.  The Westinghouse Electric Company, in conjunction with Nikola Tesla and his patent for alternating current, was contracted to light and power the fair.  In a time when major cities had only a few electric street lights, the fair had over 120,000 bulbs, hundreds of spotlights and was the brightest place on Earth!  The manufacturing building, which housed the machines that powered the fair, failed as a big exhibition draw because it was so loud that people could not last long inside.  The fair had the world's first Ferris wheel.  Invented by a 33-year-old bridge inspector from Pittsburgh, the wheel was 264 feet high, weighed 1200 tons and it's axle was the largest piece of hollow steel ever forged then (by the Bethlehem Iron Company).  The 36 passenger cars could hold 60 people!  During the fair 1.5million tickets were sold to ride it, causing the fair to make a profit and boasted no accidents!  

Nicknamed "the White City," the fair had over 200 buildings and a few thousand displays. This commissioned painting is meant to give the viewer just a drop of what it must have been like in 1893 when people who attended felt like they "were in another world."  America had 65million people and the Chicago World's Fair sold 27million tickets.  As a result, the Westinghouse Electric Company was contracted after to light and power America. 

Giclee prints are available.  Please inquire.