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Century of Progress Souvenir Thermometer

Specifications

Century of Progress Souvenir Thermometer

Category

World's Fairs

Classification

CHENHALL - Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology - Thermal T&E - Thermometer

Object Origin
Producer:

A Century of Progress

Date Manufactured:

1933-1934

Place of Production:

United States of America

Physical Characteristics

Object Description: Gold rectangular postcard with a colored depiction of the Hall of Science and a small thermometer mounted on the viewer's left side. Black text is printed at the top of the card and underneath the image. A gold tassel is threaded through two (2) holes at the top of the card.

Materials:

cardboard

Marks: "Souvenir / of Chicago World's Fair—1934 / HALL OF SCIENCE, CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR / MADE IN U.S.A."

Measurements: Object:
    Height: 4.5 in, Width: 5.5 in, Depth: 0.125 in

Credit

Gift of Silas Fung, 1992.21.87

Display Status

Not On View

Century of Progress Souvenir Thermometer

About: Century of Progress Souvenir Thermometer

About: Century of Progress Souvenir Thermometer

This 1933 Century of Progress souvenir card with a small thermometer has an image of the Hall of Science which was the largest and one of the most popular buildings at the exposition. The Hall of Science was a modernist Art Deco structure designed by Philadelphia architect Paul Cret. The building featured a 176-foot carillon tower equipped with mellow-toned chimes that sent music across the grounds throughout the day and night. This U-shaped building reached down to the lagoon and enclosed a three-acre court. In the center of its upper terrace was a circular well, forming the base of the court with colorful pools, fountains, and flower-gardens.


The exhibits inside the building exemplified the exposition’s motto “Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Adapts.” Inside the hall, visitors viewed dramatic action exhibits of industries related to the basic sciences: mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and medicine. For example, G.D. Searle and Company contributed to the field of medicine in developing, manufacturing, and marketing pharmaceuticals for cardiovascular disease. Their exhibit featured a large replica of the human heart that expanded and contracted without stopping and a booklet with information about heart disease and how to spot the symptoms. Baker and Company who were refiners of gold, silver, and platinum, presented an exhibit on platinum’s versatility as it was used for laboratory tools, electrical parts, dentistry tools, and jewelry.

Additional information

Copyright information

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