cover image Chicago's Greatest Year 1893: The White City and the Birth of a Modern Metropolis

Chicago's Greatest Year 1893: The White City and the Birth of a Modern Metropolis

Joseph Gustaitis. Southern Illinois Univ., $29.95 (216p) ISBN 978-0-8093-3248-9

Gustaitis, former humanities editor for Colliers Encyclopedia, explores Chicago's segue into a world-class city through The World's Fair 1893 Columbian Exposition, which showcased the city's latest technologies and influential players in healthcare, education, architecture, and commerce. The "White City", so named for the Exposition's aesthetic and electric lighting, needed to counteract its former "Gray City" image of air and water pollution, disease, slums, and corruption. The city created three major museums%E2%80%94the Art Institute, Field Museum, and Museum of Science and Industry%E2%80%94and an architectural masterpiece: the public library. Frank Lloyd Wright, future gum magnate William Wrigley, and retailer Richard Sears employed their considerable means to change the built landscape, while meatpacking millionaire Philip Armour helped form the educational complex that became the Illinois Institute of Technology, saying, "We want to make some fine Americans out of rough material." Gustaitis also shares the stories behind the first open-heart surgery; the first African-American priest, former slave Father Augustus Tolton; the West Side Grounds, the Cubs' first ballpark; the Chicago hot dog (seven toppings!); and Cracker Jack. The year was a turning point in the city's fortunes, and readers will find Gustaitis's recounting enjoyable, whether one is from Chicago or not. 90 Illus. (June)