Chicago's Greatest Year, 1893: The White City and the Birth of a Modern Metropolis
Chicago and the year 1893 are inextricably linked by the city’s hosting of the Columbian Exposition, the glittering fair celebrating both history and emerging technologies. Gustaitis, a freelance writer who lives in Chicago, shows that a variety of other achievements also happened in Chicago in that year, which cemented the status of the city as a great metropolis. Some of the firsts described here seem minor, even frivolous, such as the invention of Juicy Fruit gum. Others were truly significant: Daniel Hale Williams, an African American surgeon, performed open-heart surgery; Sears and Roebuck was incorporated and would soon revolutionize the retail business; both the Field Museum and the Art Institute were founded. By telescoping on this single year, Gustaitis is able to describe these developments in substantial detail. This is a well-written tribute to his city and an excellent piece of local history. --Jay Freeman