The Spectacular World’s Fair Exposition Universelle in Rare Pictures, 1899 – Design You Trust

The Spectacular World’s Fair Exposition Universelle in Rare Pictures, 1899

The Eiffel Tower viewed from the Champ du Mars.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The 1889 World Fair in Paris was symbolically important, since the year 1889 marked the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution, and the Fair was announced as a celebration of the event. It attracted more than thirty-two million visitors. The most famous structure created for the Exposition, and still remaining, is the Eiffel Tower.

h/t: rarehistoricalphotos

The Gallery of Beaux-Arts.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle covered a total area of 0.96 km2, including the Champ de Mars, the Trocadéro, the quai d’Orsay, a part of the Seine and the Invalides esplanade. Transport around the Exposition was partly provided by a 3 kilometre (1.9 mi) 600 millimetre (2 ft 0 in) gauge railway by Decauville. It was claimed that the railway carried 6.342.446 visitors in just six months of operation.

The exterior of the Egyptian pavilion.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The countries which officially participated in the Exposition were Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the United States, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Persia, Saint-Martin, El Salvador, Serbia, Siam, the Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, and Uruguay, The British dominions of New Zealand and Tasmania also took part.

The Mexican pavilion.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

Because of the theme of the Exposition, celebrating the overthrow of the French monarchy, nearly all European countries with monarchies officially boycotted the Exposition. The boycotting nations were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, and Sweden.

Nonetheless, many citizens and companies from these countries did participate, and a number of countries had their participation entirely funded by private sponsors.

An iron and steel works exhibit.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

Visitors strolling between exhibitions.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

Paris Exposition, view from ground level of the Eiffel tower with Parisians promenading, 1889.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

La Galerie des Machines. 1899.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The Dome of Beaux-Arts.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The pavilion of Great Britain.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The pavilion of Paraguay.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

Visitors stroll through north African exhibits.

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The pavilion of French Pastellists.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The Prefecture of the Seine exhibit, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

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Foraging and hunting exhibits.

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The Central Dome of the exhibition.

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The entrance to the horology exhibition.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The Grand Gallery of the various industries.

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The jewelry exhibition.

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The pavilion of goldsmithery.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

An exhibition of marble sculptures by Jules Cantini.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The entrance to the furniture exhibition.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The pavilion of Brazil.

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The entrance to the ceramics exhibition.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The Grand Gallery of the various industries.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The gate for an exhibition of woolen fabrics.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The palace of India.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The Austria-Hungary exhibition.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The entrance to an exhibition hall.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The entrance to an exhibition of French pastellists.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The Japanese pavilion.

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The interior of a pavilion.

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The pavilion of Venezuela.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The pavilion of Chile.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

The Grand Gallery of the various industries.

AALTO University/Brown University Library Center

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