May 1, 1893, the Worlds Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago, although meant to honor Columbus landing in 1492 the Exposition was a year late and over budget. Buffalo Bill Cody and Nate Salsbury, just returned from a triumphant tour of Europe, had applied to the Exposition committee to be a part of the event, but were turned down because the committee thought Buffalo Bills troupe to be incongruous and with the high-brow expectations for their White City, built mostly of plaster and whitewash, but being lit electrically its glow could be seen from the dark heart of the city. Not to be dissuaded, Salsbury leased a 15-acre plot of farm land adjacent to the Exposition grounds and the roustabouts leisurely set up the arena, opening on April 3, nearly a month before the exposition and began filling the 18,000 seat arena, the public entering through a gate with a banner with an illustration of Columbus, calling him the PILOT OF THE OCEAN, THE FIRST PIONEER and an illustration on the other side of Buffalo Bill saying PILOT OF THE PLAINS, THE LAST PIONEER. Many people saw the Wild West and left satisfied they had seen the Worlds Fair. Cody and Salsbury made a fortune that summer, while the Exposition never broke even, although the White City set the style for public buildings nationwide for a long time to come. When the Exposition cancelled a planned Waifs Day for the poor children of Chicago, Buffalo Bill stepped in and hired a train to bring the kids from the heart of the city to the Wild West grounds, gave them free popcorn, ice cream and candy and a free ticket for a performance of Buffalo Bills Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. Here is a photo of Annie Oakley, practicing a left-handed pistol shot for an admirer between performances and Cody watches a performance through a hole in the canvas.
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 22:15:06 +0000
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