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The Raupp Museum Online Database

Souvenirs from Chicago and Local Fairs

Souvenirs From Around the Corner!

Chicago and Local Fairs


In the early 1900s, traveling to Chicago was always a thrilling trip when compared to the quiet Buffalo Grove. It was a very, very big city, with lots of shopping, food, and events like the World’s Fair. The Chicago World's Fairs in 1893 and 1933 were some of the most exciting events for many of the people living in and around Chicago at the time.

The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, or “World’s Columbian Exposition”, was huge. It had over 200 new buildings built over 690 acres of space. Over 27 million people visited the fair. People from Buffalo Grove were included in that count, and brought back souvenirs from their trip to the fair including books and their tickets.

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World's Fair Parasol, C. 1933

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1933 A Century of Progress International Exposition

Chicago World's Fair

The 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, also named “A Century of Progress International Exposition”, also had Buffalo Grove residents visiting and buying. This fair focused on science and technology and took over 427 acres of land along Lake Michigan, with over 48 millions people visiting the fair.

Like the 1893 fair, tickets and books were saved as souvenirs but a resident also saved a colorful parasol, made in Japan.  The World's Fairs always featured booths with items from around the world. 

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Lake County Fair Advertising on Raupp Farm, C. 1910

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Fun at the Local Fair

You didn’t have to travel all the way to Chicago to find souvenirs! Local fairs and events also had fun trinkets for sale. The Lake County Fair has been around for over 100 years and is currently held in Grayslake every summer. Some of the early souvenirs were interesting oddities, like the glass paperweight souvenir from the fair in 1903. It contains many different shells in a glass bulb.

Local fairs were really popular and everyone wore their best clothing– take a look at this event in Deer Grove Park!

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Deer Grove Park, Palatine. C. 1917

Souvenirs from Chicago and Local Fairs