1900 Universal Exposition

Souvenirs

This stereoscope was probably made around the 1900s or 1910s. But why is it part of the World's Fair Collection? Well, that is because on the top of the eye piece is a design.

This is a symbol from the 1900 Universal Exposition, a world's fair held in Paris, France. This design, in particular, was based off of the fair's official medal design. These medals would have been given out to exhibits at the fair. It was common for companies that won these medals to advertise the fact that they won a medal at a world's fair, a special achievement at the time. So we can conclude that the manufacturer of this stereoscope won a medal at the 1900 Universal Exposition.

For more pictures of this stereoscope, the "Stereoscopic Views" page, part of our Photography Collection.

Works Cited

  • www.expositionmedals.com. “Award Medals from Expositions and Expos, Prize Medals, Collecting Expo Award Medals - ExpositionMedals.com.” ExpositionMedals.com. Accessed October 17, 2022. http://www.expositionmedals.com/award_medals.htm

Photographs

Above is the Porte Monumentale or the Monumental Gate which was designed by architect René Binet. Despite its unique architecture it was disliked by many of the fair's visitors.

Pictured are the German, Norwegian, and Belgian pavilions.

Pictured here are the Ottoman Emprie, American and Austrian pavilions.

The Palais du Trocadéro, originally built for the 1878 world's fair, continued to be used as part of future world's fairs held in Paris. It was torn down in 1937 with a new structure, the Palais de Chaillot, built for the 1937 world's fair.