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Above: Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) at the age of 38.

World's Columbian Exposition
 in Chicago 1893
- The great victory of Tesla/Westinghouse's Polyphase alternating current system electricity.

By Dr. Ljubo Vujovic and Marko Vujovic

The World Columbian Exposition was the World's Fair commemorating 400 years since Christopher Columbus set foot in the New World.  Located on Lake Michigan to facilitate access by sea, road and rail.  It was a gathering of ideas, men and technologies from every quarter of the globe, with each country contributing its best of their industrial, cultural, commercial and educational enterprises.  The Renaissance style of the exposition buildings was unsurpassed by its architecture beauty.  The Exposition itself was a work of art.  The Exposition was a brilliant spectacle of science, art and industry.  All the world has its pilgrimage to Columbian Exposition in 1893.  Westinghouse became dedicated to promoting the polyphase alternating current system and felt that his best chance to introduce it to the public at large would be at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  The exposition was the greatest event in America and in the world at that time.  Ever the ingenious promoter Westinghouse outbid Edison for the contract to power the expositions lighting and electrical systems.  Over Two Hundred thousand electric light bulbs were illuminated by Tesla's polyphase alternating current system.  The Westinghouse display was a historic collection of machines, all powered with Tesla/Westinghouse alternating current.  It was a spectacular display of lights and energy, which illuminated the exposition.

Pictures of this great event where taken from the following excellent books:

• The Book Of The Fair by Howe Bancroft, Volume One

• The Dream City: A Portfolio of Photographic Views by Prof. Halsey C. Ives

Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893
Celebrating 400 years of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus

Above: Statue of Columbus at the Exhibition.

Above: Administration Building, East Front.

Above: The Great Allis-Corliss Engine

Above: Tesla's Polyphase Alternating Current 500 horse power generator, in Westinghouse Exposition.

Above: Looking East from the Ferris Wheel - the Columbian Exposition,
"The Dream City".

Above: The Heroic Statue of the Republic.

Above: "The Dream City", the Columbian Exposition of 1893.

Above: The Ferris Wheel - the chief wonder of the fair of 1893 was the work of George Washington Gale Ferris, a man born west of Chicago.  The Ferris Wheel was one of the World's Wonders.

Above: The Electricity Building - where Westinghouse's Exposition was located.

Above: The Edison Electric Tower.

Above: The Electricity Building - where Westinghouse's Exposition was located.

Above: Nikola Tesla's personal exhibit at the World Fair in Chicago, 1893.

Above: Nikola Tesla's personal exhibition - Neon Lights.

Above:  A Mammoth Dynamo

World's Columbian Exposition
 in Chicago 1893 Opening Ceremony