The Eiffel Tower. Without argument one of the greatest man made structures ever built, and one of the most popular tourist attractions found worldwide. Built by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel between 1887 and 1889, for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, France, at first it was widely regarded with skepticism. From the point of its reveal to today, however, it is considered an architectural wonder, attracting more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world.
At the time leading up to the Chicago World’s Fair, the opinion of the Eiffel Tower was no different. It was a wonder, “that not only assured the eternal fame of its designer, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, but also offered graphic proof the France had edged out the United States for dominance in the realm of iron and steel” (Larson 15). From that time forward, there was a national cry to “out-Eiffel Eiffel,” meaning that the United States’s most brilliant and gifted architects had to come up with a plan to best Eiffel’s tower and France. Not only did this desire to one-up the outside world fuel the idea for the World’s Columbian Exposition, but it was a necessary element to the event that constantly is found in the forefront of Daniel Hudson Burnham’s mind. Unfortunately, up until this point, a worthy idea to accomplish this task has eluded him, with Opening Day only months away. Despite his dire urging to his fellow American architects that something must be done to surpass the Eiffel Tower’s greatness, none of them seem to be going after it. Even the ones that do attempt a design are simply thinking in terms of towers, a direction that Burnham believes to be incorrect, saying, “Eiffel had done it first and best...To build a tower would be to follow Eiffel into territory he already had conquered for France” (Larson 135). So if not a tower what would the next great idea be and who could it come from? It seems none other than Eiffel himself would attempt it, as he submitted a design for a tower that was essentially taller than the one he had done in France. The fact that he seemed to be winning the race to have the task outraged American architects, an emotion Burnham welcomed as he politely rejected Eiffel’s offer.
As Dedication Day approached, it appeared that a young architect from Pittsburgh would be preparing to make an attempt at “out-Eiffeling Eiffel.” What he would propose remains a mystery, however, but in order to finally get the approval from the World’s Fair commission, it would have to prove to be something truly tremendous. He seemed to be putting in full effort to come up with an inspiring design, spending $25,000 on drawings and other specifications for the attraction, and so I am personally very interested as to what he will come up with.
Aside from the problems surrounding creating an awe inspiring focal point for the World’s Fair, there have been a few other issues. Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous designer of Central Park, and the landscape architect for the fair, has become increasingly ill and it has affected progress. In addition, he is very displeased with the progress that has been made on the grounds come Dedication Day. Due to his declining health, he decides to take time off to travel to Europe, where he explores the Paris World’s Fair site. Seeing this makes him only more concerned that the American exposition is not sufficient, specifically in regards to building design. In addition, his drives through the countryside create feelings of anxiety and worry about Jackson Park, saying “ There is nothing in America to be compared with the pastoral or with the picturesque beauty that is common property in England” (Larson 171). Despite all of this, Olmsted remained confident that his landscapes in Chicago would succeed. Unfortunately, his health appears to constantly be dwindling so it will be interesting to see how and if he can recover. The fate of the World’s Columbian Exposition certainly is very dependent on how well Olmsted’s condition improves.
Naturally our old friend Dr. H.H. Holmes has been up to some questionable activities lately that warrants a reflection. Altogether in this section, it appears that Holmes has killed 3 more women, Gertie Conner, Julia Conner, who was supposedly pregnant with she and Holmes’s baby, and her daughter, Pearl. Not only did Holmes likely kill Julia, but he also drove her away from her husband, Ned, who also becomes a pawn in Holmes’s scheme. The disappearances are beginning to rise slight suspicions in observers, however, including Ned and Mrs. Crowe, another building tenant. It is perplexing to wonder if anything will be done to investigate these suspicions because it does not appear that they will be taking any action at this point. Another interesting development is Holmes’s courting of yet another woman, this time Miss Emeline Cigrand. He steals her away from her other job by offering her double her salary to be his assistant, and they almost immediately become involved. At the end of the chapter it is clear that Holmes has asked Cigrand to marry him, so one can only wonder if she will fall into the same terrible fate that the other women have thus far.
At the time leading up to the Chicago World’s Fair, the opinion of the Eiffel Tower was no different. It was a wonder, “that not only assured the eternal fame of its designer, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, but also offered graphic proof the France had edged out the United States for dominance in the realm of iron and steel” (Larson 15). From that time forward, there was a national cry to “out-Eiffel Eiffel,” meaning that the United States’s most brilliant and gifted architects had to come up with a plan to best Eiffel’s tower and France. Not only did this desire to one-up the outside world fuel the idea for the World’s Columbian Exposition, but it was a necessary element to the event that constantly is found in the forefront of Daniel Hudson Burnham’s mind. Unfortunately, up until this point, a worthy idea to accomplish this task has eluded him, with Opening Day only months away. Despite his dire urging to his fellow American architects that something must be done to surpass the Eiffel Tower’s greatness, none of them seem to be going after it. Even the ones that do attempt a design are simply thinking in terms of towers, a direction that Burnham believes to be incorrect, saying, “Eiffel had done it first and best...To build a tower would be to follow Eiffel into territory he already had conquered for France” (Larson 135). So if not a tower what would the next great idea be and who could it come from? It seems none other than Eiffel himself would attempt it, as he submitted a design for a tower that was essentially taller than the one he had done in France. The fact that he seemed to be winning the race to have the task outraged American architects, an emotion Burnham welcomed as he politely rejected Eiffel’s offer.
As Dedication Day approached, it appeared that a young architect from Pittsburgh would be preparing to make an attempt at “out-Eiffeling Eiffel.” What he would propose remains a mystery, however, but in order to finally get the approval from the World’s Fair commission, it would have to prove to be something truly tremendous. He seemed to be putting in full effort to come up with an inspiring design, spending $25,000 on drawings and other specifications for the attraction, and so I am personally very interested as to what he will come up with.
Aside from the problems surrounding creating an awe inspiring focal point for the World’s Fair, there have been a few other issues. Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous designer of Central Park, and the landscape architect for the fair, has become increasingly ill and it has affected progress. In addition, he is very displeased with the progress that has been made on the grounds come Dedication Day. Due to his declining health, he decides to take time off to travel to Europe, where he explores the Paris World’s Fair site. Seeing this makes him only more concerned that the American exposition is not sufficient, specifically in regards to building design. In addition, his drives through the countryside create feelings of anxiety and worry about Jackson Park, saying “ There is nothing in America to be compared with the pastoral or with the picturesque beauty that is common property in England” (Larson 171). Despite all of this, Olmsted remained confident that his landscapes in Chicago would succeed. Unfortunately, his health appears to constantly be dwindling so it will be interesting to see how and if he can recover. The fate of the World’s Columbian Exposition certainly is very dependent on how well Olmsted’s condition improves.
Naturally our old friend Dr. H.H. Holmes has been up to some questionable activities lately that warrants a reflection. Altogether in this section, it appears that Holmes has killed 3 more women, Gertie Conner, Julia Conner, who was supposedly pregnant with she and Holmes’s baby, and her daughter, Pearl. Not only did Holmes likely kill Julia, but he also drove her away from her husband, Ned, who also becomes a pawn in Holmes’s scheme. The disappearances are beginning to rise slight suspicions in observers, however, including Ned and Mrs. Crowe, another building tenant. It is perplexing to wonder if anything will be done to investigate these suspicions because it does not appear that they will be taking any action at this point. Another interesting development is Holmes’s courting of yet another woman, this time Miss Emeline Cigrand. He steals her away from her other job by offering her double her salary to be his assistant, and they almost immediately become involved. At the end of the chapter it is clear that Holmes has asked Cigrand to marry him, so one can only wonder if she will fall into the same terrible fate that the other women have thus far.