The world’s fairs of the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries were major cultural events that attracted millions of visitors and many of those who attended were eager to take a piece of the fair home with them. Enter the mass-produced souvenir: along with programs, postcards, prints, and other paper ephemera, there were also fans, scarves, plates, plaques, and more available for purchase (and sometimes customization) in various buildings and sections of the fairgrounds. Along with their practical uses, such mementos tacitly promoted the fairs, much the way branded merchandise from tourist destinations like the Disney Parks do in the present day.
UD's collections include materials from about a dozen international expositions, most from fairs held in the United States. Included in this display case and the case to the left are souvenirs from five of these events.
