{"id":289,"date":"2026-04-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/?p=289"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:57:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:57:06","slug":"world-expo-expose-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/world-expo-expose-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Midway Origins (World Expo Expos\u00e9! – Part 3)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I first wrote my series about the inspiration and history of The Grande World Exposition of 1890, I divided it into three parts. While Canada’s Wonderland was happy to post two segments, the third one was seen as too tangential to be featured on the park’s official website. I fully understand and agree with that decision, but I do think there’s some interesting context to be gained from the part that never saw publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presented below, more or less as it was written in 2021, is an exploration of how World Expos have influenced the development of theme parks as an industry. Unless otherwise noted, all photos used are in the public domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exposition Universelle de 1889: Paris, France<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Le
Le Champ de Mars featuring the Eiffel Tower, circa 1889.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Exposition Universelle de 1889 was held in the heart of Paris, marking 100 years since the start of the French Revolution. This expo is notable not only for being just one year prior to Wonderland\u2019s own World Expo setting, but also because the Eiffel Tower<\/a>, one of the most iconic manufactured structures of all time, was built specifically for the expo! It was the tallest artificial structure at the time, perfectly encapsulating the advancements in engineering and construction of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believe it or not, this monument of technical and architectural achievement was only visited by about one in 16 of expo attendees. What\u2019s more, Paris originally intended to remove the tower just 20 years after it opened, with many residents considering it nothing but an enormous eyesore. Ultimately the unique structure was deemed impressive and useful enough to become a permanent radio tower and tourist attraction. Paris now sees nearly seven million visitors access the various levels of the Eiffel Tower annually, and more than 10 million around the base of the original “Iron Lady.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Paris'
Paris’ Eiffel Tower circa 1889 (public domain) next to Kings Island’s Eiffel Tower circa 2018 (my photo).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For a bit of comparison, the two original sister parks of Canada’s Wonderland, Kings Island and Kings Dominion, both feature a \u2153 replica of the Eiffel Tower, standing as the centrepiece for each park. Though the two parks do not release official attendance figures, annual reports from AECOM and TEA<\/a> estimate the two parks coming in below seven million guests annually combined<\/em> <\/strong>and of course not everyone is riding the elevators up to the observation deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

World\u2019s Columbian Exhibition: Chicago, Illinois, USA. (1893)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A poster for the World’s Columbian Exposition 1893.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most influential world expo of all was the World\u2019s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, 1893. In addition to being a huge step forward in Thomas Edison\u2019s electrical advancements (requiring three times as much lighting power as the city of Chicago itself) and featuring the first \u201cWomen\u2019s Pavilion\u201d dedicated to the work of women in all fields, the World\u2019s Columbian Exhibition was the actual origin of the word \u201cmidway\u201d as we know it today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Artwork
A watercolour painting of the Midway Plaisance, by Charles S. Graham.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Midway Plaisance was a mile-long (1.6 km) strip dedicated to entertainment of all kinds! Virtually every amusement park, carnival, theme park, and fair took inspiration from this layout, featuring games, food stalls, and other attractions all along the strip. But there was one attraction along the midway which stood taller than all the rest, designed to rival Eiffel\u2019s \u201ceyesore\u201d as an even greater engineering marvel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Midway Plaisance with a hot air balloon and the original Ferris Wheel in the distance.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Towering above the Midway Plaisance was a new 264 foot tall (80.5 m) sight-seeing invention by George Washington Ferris Jr, named the \u201cBig Wheel.\u201d Yes, the very first \u201cFerris Wheel\u201d debuted at a world expo, standing taller than Drop Tower, Behemoth, and Yukon Striker with enclosed standing-room cabins for more than 2,000 riders at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ferris
The Big Wheel, also called the “Chicago Wheel,” towered above the windy city.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most people of that era had never been in anything higher than a three-storey building, so you can imagine how incredible it would be to look down on the world from such a height for the first time. They had plenty of time to enjoy it as well since the ride lasted about 20 minutes including nine minutes of uninterrupted rotation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1964\/1965 New York World\u2019s Fair: New York, New York, USA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Postcard
Postcard from the 1964\/1965 New York World’s Fair. Source: \u201cOfficial 1964 – 1965 New York World’s Fair Postcard – The Unisphere On The Left Side<\/a>\u201d by Joe Haupt<\/a>, CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Bureau International des Expositions<\/a>, which sanctions all official world expos, actually didn\u2019t approve the 1964\/1965 New York World\u2019s Fair due to two violations of the rules: First, the organizers wanted to extend the the expo beyond the maximum duration of six months. Second, they charged exhibitors a site-rental fee if they wished to build a pavilion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this unofficial status, the 1964 expo attracted nations, businesses and innovators alike, including the eager theme park developer Walt Disney. Disney was able to use the expo as a testing ground for his then-new audio-animatronics as well as a few new ride systems. The most notable of Disney\u2019s contributions for the fair was the infamous \u201cIt\u2019s a Small World\u201d ride, perfectly encapsulating the international representation of world expos while being \u201ca salute to UNICEF and all the world\u2019s children.\u201d At the conclusion of the fair in 1965, Walt Disney brought his pavilions back to Disneyland to be installed as permanent attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Exterior
The exterior of “Pepsi-Cola Presents Walt Disney’s ‘it’s a small world'” as it appeared in 1964.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Disney\u2019s appreciation for world expos didn\u2019t end with the 1965 New York World\u2019s Fair, though. He envisioned a permanent world expo with persistent pavilions representing (and supported by) various countries, a dream realized with the introduction of EPCOT\u2019s \u201cWorld Showcase\u201d in 1982. Of course this idea (minus the international sponsorship) was already implemented a year earlier as The Grande World Exposition of 1890 opened at Canada\u2019s Wonderland in 1981. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expo 67: Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1967)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A postcard from Expo 67. Source: \u201cThe 1967 Montreal World’s Fair<\/a>\u201d by Joe Haupt<\/a>, CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Canada has hosted a few \u201cspecialized expos\u201d over the years, but it has only hosted one officially recognized World Exposition. After four years of preparation, Expo 67 in Montreal opened on a greatly expanded island, made from dirt taken from construction of the city\u2019s underground train service. The expo coincided with the 100th anniversary of Canada\u2019s Confederation as well as the 325th anniversary of Montreal\u2019s founding. Over its six month run, Expo 67 proved a huge success, greeting more than 50 million visitors \u2014 that\u2019s two and a half times Canada\u2019s population at the time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/a>
Part of Canada’s pavilion at Expo 67. Source: Laurent B\u00e9langer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the conclusion of Expo 67, several international pavilions remained as a new exhibit, known as \u201cMan and His World,\u201d until multiple fires and abandoned or vandalized structures caused its final closure in 1984. Some of the other structures built for the expo remain, such as the Montreal Biosphere (now operating as an environmental museum) and the futuristic \u201cHabitat 67\u201d (now functioning as a condominium).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Biosphere from Expo 67 still stands today, now operating as an environmental museum.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the ride side of Expo 67, an entertainment complex operated as part of the expo and still exists as a full fledged amusement park named La Ronde. The connections between World Expositions and amusement parks can’t get any clearer than it is here with Montreal’s manufactured island on the St. Lawrence River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"La
An aerial look at La Ronde from the Jacques Cartier Bridge. Source: Thomas Ledl, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Contemporary World Expos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are still world expos today, they certainly look a lot different than they did in the 19th century. The upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai in United Arab Emirates, delayed until this October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be the first expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Update: Obviously Dubai’s expo happened several years back, ending four years ago last month. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan also took place last summer, incidentally on an artificial island like Expo 67. The next official World Exposition is scheduled for 2030, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aerial
An aerial look Yumeshima Island’s “Grand Ring,” the site of at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Source: Ibamoto, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But as amusement parks continue to feature far more complex and impressive rides than would be present at any temporary exhibit, midway attractions have all but disappeared from modern expos. Amazingly, this is precisely what’s happened at Canada’s Wonderland, with high-thrill flying and jet coasters replacing the transportable flat rides and old-fashioned log flume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An
An “Egyptian Temple” seen at the Exposition Universelle de 1867 (at left). The Egypt pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai (at right). Expo 2010 photo credit: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At contemporary expos, countries are less focussed on reflecting their past than they are on the primary goals of world expos: sharing innovations and presenting a vision for the future. As a result, while the pavilions typically still reflect some unique characteristics, historic architecture may not be featured as prominently as it once was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps then it’s appropriate so many historic pavilion designs at Canada’s Wonderland have also faded away over time. But I for one hope to see the golden era of world expos recreated once again in The Grande World Exposition of 1890.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I first wrote my series about the inspiration and history of The Grande World Exposition of 1890, I divided it into three parts. While Canada’s Wonderland was happy to post two segments, the third one was seen as too tangential to be featured on the park’s official website. I fully understand and agree with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[9,8,23],"class_list":["post-289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-park-history","tag-park-history","tag-world-expo","tag-world-expo-expose"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=289"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":381,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289\/revisions\/381"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}