Government Support at Chicago World's Fair 1933/34

• official recognition by Federal Government -> essential to status of a fair
• invitations to foreign governments to participate in the fair
• exposition neither desired nor received any subsidy from the US government
• Federal participation was on the same basis as that of other important exhibitors
• great contribution of Federal Government to success of Exposition
• Elaborate receptions for entertainment of official visitors
• Proposition that Congress should invite participation of foreign nations
• invitation by US to foreign governments to exhibit in the Fair, ensured the presence of US government as one main exhibitors
• resolution provided for participation of Federal Government , authorized an appropriation of $1,000,000 for this purpose, part of which might be expended in the erection of a Government building,
• commission to consist of Secretary of State, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce to represent US
• US Government became one of largest & most cooperative of Exposition's exhibitors
• Departments: State, Treasury, Navy, Army, Agriculture, Post Office, Interior, Justice, Commerce and Labor
• ten departments & eight major Federal establishments cooperated with: the Government Printing Office, Library of Congress, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, National Capitol Park and Planning Commission, the Panama Canal, United States Shipping Board, Smithsonian Institute, and the Veterans Administration
• decision whether ‘A Century of Progress’ should continue in 1934 one of the first questions to be resolved was action by Federal Government
• 30 days before close of the 1933 Fair, assurances received from President of US


These points are probably the main differences where we can draw a line between a World's Fair and a Trade Fair. The US government did not participate in the fair financially, but participated as an exhibitor. At a trade fair, the government does not participate at all.