Presented by Kelsey Josephson

Alternate history is popular in steampunk storytelling, but what happens when reality is stranger than fiction? Come learn about the 1893 World’s Fair that almost wasn’t and the curious events surrounding the exposition.

With fierce competition between cities to host the Fair and the War of the Currents, the Columbian Exposition had a challenging start. We’ll discuss the myriad of problems faced by the scale of the construction of the White City, inventions and products debuted, the multitude of notable international visitors, and shocking crimes committed in Chicago during the Fair. Finally, we’ll examine examples of the 1893 World’s Fair in media.


Kelsey Josephson is a sci-fi fantasy author and member of SFWA and ALLi from the Midwest. She has a deep love for Universal Monster movies, all things related to Nikola Tesla, and iced coffee.

Her work includes Strange Happenings, a gaslamp fantasy series set in an alternate timeline, and Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast,


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