Part 3, Opening Day Summary

Opening Day began as a rainy day. Twenty-three carriages carried the dignitaries to the park for the ceremony. Once the carriages started moving toward the park, the sun came out. President Grover Cleveland gave a short address after others had spoken and turned the key to send electricity throughout the Exposition grounds. The Exposition had officially started.

Throughout the night, workers had cleaned, painted, repaired and planted, so that everything looked wonderful. Even though the Ferris wheel was not completed and some of the exhibits were not ready, the Exposition was ready.

The count for opening day ranged from 250,000 to 620,000, depending on who was asked. Unfortunately, the high attendance did not last long. The economy throughout the United States declined, banks and companies failed, and people lost their jobs. Frank Millet was given the task to increase attendance, but...