The 1893 Exposition premiered many new advancements in technology, and that year the world’s innovators were engaged in a race to harness electricity to provide power for humanity. In the lead were Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, with Tesla’s alternating current (A/C) concept going up against Edison’s direct current (D/C) system in what is known as the “Battle of the Currents;” a battle that came to a head in Chicago when Tesla was chosen over Edison.
Some speculate that Edison made an alliance with Count Graf Orlock to exact revenge upon Tesla. Others argue that it was the invention of the light bulb that drew the attention of the vampire councils. Whatever the reason, July 1893 secretly witnessed a dark cloud of Victorian Gothic horrors, Penny Dreadfuls come to life, and the looming presence of the Dark Prince fall upon the “White City.”
Tesla quickly realized that it would take more than just his alternating current electricity to protect the Exposition from Nosferatu’s army of darkness; Tesla needed an army of his own. Working hurriedly with Ferris, Professor Truelove, and Ada Lovelace, they managed to open a time and space portal to the year 2024, seeking the help of the most imaginative minds and creative souls who would beckon the call. Many social rebels and analog dreamers, so called “Steampunks,” responded to the plea and came to Tesla’s aid . . . but they were not the only ones to pass through the portal.
April 2024, will you align yourself with Tesla’s fight to protect the Exposition from this nightmare? Or will you join Edison’s alliance of darkness and be one of the creatures that lurk in the shadow of Nosferatu?
PLEASE NOTE that ALL costuming is welcome and does not have to be related to the theme, and you don’t even have to come in costume; 21st Century “Time Tumblers” are welcome to 1893 as well
The Chicago Steampunk Exposition provides 48 HOURS of nonstop programming that includes: entertainment, presentations, exhibitors, workshops, dances, gaming, contests, and more!
Entertainment & Special Events
- Afternoon Tea Party (Saturday) One Ticket Left
- Afternoon Tea Party (Sunday) SOLD OUT
- Afternoon Tea with Jim Butcher (Saturday) SOLD OUT
- Afternoon Tea with Jim Butcher (Sunday) SOLD OUT
- Afternoon Tea with Leanna Renee Hieber (Saturday)
- Afternoon Tea with Leanna Renee Hieber (Sunday)
- Afternoon Tea with Valentine Wolfe (Saturday)
- Afternoon Tea with Valentine Wolfe (Sunday)
- Blood Sirens and Dark Dwellers Encounter
- Convention Foam Fighting
- DJ Scary Lady Sarah
- DJ Zophiel
- Fashion Show
- The Feral Ghosts
- The Goblin Court Masquerade
- Jim Butcher Book Signing
- Jim Butcher Q&A (hosted by Leanna Renee Hieber)
- Lolitas, Vampires, & Steampunks Tea Party
- Promethean Society Faire of Mad Science
- Steam & Sorcery LARP Mystery Game
- Steampunk Xena
- Valentine Wolfe
Panels & Presentations
- 13 Places to Hide a Body at the 1893 World’s Fair (13+)
- Art of the Victorian Age: Major Art Movements of the 19th century
- The Beginning of Horror (13+)
- Brain Otters at the Helm: Organization for Creatives and Neurodivergents
- The Dark Side of the Fang: Antisemitic Caricatures in European Monster Lore (13+)
- Dracula Forever (Leanna Renee Hieber)
- Families Who Kill Together: 1800’s Serial Killing Families (13+)
- The Great New England Vampire Panic (13+)
- The History of Substance Use Treatment & Recovery in Victorian Times (13+)
- Illumination of the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition: Nosferatu’s Connection with Nikola Tesla
- Jim Butcher Book Signing
- Jim Butcher Q&A (hosted by Leanna Renee Hieber)
- League of Lady Poisoners (18+)
- Magic Explains Mayhem: True Stories of Werewolf Serial Killers (13+)
- Momento Mori: Death Imagery in Western Art
- Movies that Influenced Steampunk (13+)
- Museum. of Wonder and Awe
- Nikola Tesla: His Rise and Fall
- O Gothic Novel! An Entertaining, Irreverent History (Leanna Renee Hieber)
- Obscure Flirtations: Flower and Fan Languages (13+)
- Podcasting and You (13+)
- Professor Lena and the Bloodlust Butterfly (13+)
- Radio Retrofuture (18+)
- Renaissance/Fancy/Exotic Hair Braids
- So, You Want to be a God?
- So, You Want to be a Necromancer? (13+)
- The Spirits of the Second City (13+)
- Strange Happenings at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (13+)
- Tradition, Technology and the Titanic (13+)
- Vampire Hunting 101
- When Science Meets the Supernatural
- Writing Steam (13+)
- . . . and a few more still to come!
Crafter & Maker Workshops
Most workshops require an additional ticket to cover the presenter’s materials fees (see specific workshop for details), but observers are welcome to watch the crafting for no fee.
- Books for your Vampire Weekend
- Build-A-Blinkie Soldering Workshop
- Circular Gallifreyan: How to & FAQ (13+)
- Make a Blood Jar (all ages)
- Masks and Chains for the Masquerade (13+)
- Mechanical Creature Puppets Made by the Mad……We mean You!!!
- Parasol Dueling Holsters (13+)
- Quick & Easy Special Effects Makeup
- Taming the Toxic Tool Bench
- . . . and a few more still to come!
Storytelling & Readings
- Brendan Detzner reads from The Orphan Fleet (13+)
- D.M. Ritzlin Author Reading (18+)
- Emilie P. Bush reads from Fables in the Key of Kink (18+)
- Reading by Josef Matulich (13+)
- Reading from A Haunted History of Invisible Women by Leanna Renee Hieber
- Reading of Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast (13+)
- Reading of Mendel’s Ladder (Neoevolution Earth Vol. 1) (13+)
- . . . and a few more still to come!
Contests & Gaming
For scheduled tabletop gaming events, please sign up onsite at our onsite Gaming Library in Room 1322.
- Call of Cthulhu “Dead Light” (18+)
- Call of Cthulhu “The Edge of Darkness” (18+)
- Call of Cthulhu “Servants of the Lake” (18+)
- Candela Obscura (13+)
- Fiasco (13+)
- Gothic Horror Gaming (13+)
- Leviathans (13+)
- Open Table Top Gaming Room (all ages)
- Parasol Dueling (all ages)
- Steam & Sorcery LARP (Live Action Roleplaying Game)
- Tea Dueling
- Victorian Parlor Games (all ages)
- . . . and a few more still to come!