World's Fairs

The Chicago Railroad Fair celebrating 100 years of railroad operations in Chicago opened in 1948 and closed in 1949. It was hosted in Burnham Park and organized by the Chicago Northwestern Railway. Thirty-nine railroads and over twenty equipment manufacturers participated in the fair. Among the attractions were the first  American locomotive, a military train replica, and the Freedom Train.

Below are some relevant items in our collection:

• Chicago Railroad Fair scrip books : [miscellaneous items, partly used]. Call number: GV1837 .R5
• Chicago Railroad Fair official guide book : and program for the pageant "Wheels a-rolling". Call number: TF6.U6 C4 1949 OVERSIZE
• "Chicago's Railroad Fair Opens Today." Chicago Tribune. Call number: HE1007 .C5 1948 FOLIO
• Santa Fe Railway Indian village : souvenir, Chicago Railroad Fair, Summer 1948. Call number: E78.S7 S26 1948
• Chicago Railroad Fair Slides [graphic], 1948. Call/Accession number: 1995.0007 PCT0158 *Advanced notice required for viewing. Email research@chicagohistory.org.
• Various Prints & Photographs

Search Subject Headings in ARCHIE

• Chicago Railroad Fair (1948-1949)

Other Local Sources

• Chicago Railroad Fair records at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Other Online Sources

• Chicago Tribune Photo gallery: Railroad Fair
• Lewis Schneider's Photo Album