Around 40,000 workers were employed for the construction of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Even so, the assembly of the fair was slow and not without problems. Due to the immensity of the project and the various setbacks the opening day was postponed from late 1892 to May 1893. The newspaper comic (item 3) is a drawing of a man (likely Daniel H. Burnham) attempting to keep his grasp on a horse that is pulling him through deep rushing water with the construction of the fair in the background, possibly alluding to the problematic delay of the fair. Ware’s sketchbook pages show his incredible dedication to research and planning, as well as his skill as a draftsman. Ware sketched directly from many of the documentary photos made by C.D. Arnold.

1. Acme Novelty Datebook #1 by Chris Ware. Montréal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2003.
2. World’s Columbian Exposition, Electricity Building. Historic Architecture and Landscape Image Collection.
3. Newspaper cartoon of Daniel H. Burnham (?) by Unknown Artist. Daniel H. Burnham Collection, 1836-1946.
4. World's Columbian Exposition, Horticultural Building. World's Columbian Exposition Photographs by C. D. Arnold, 1891-1894 collection.
5. World’s Columbian Exposition, Temporary Offices and Hospital. World's Columbian Exposition Photographs by C. D. Arnold, 1891-1894 collection.
6. World’s Columbian Exposition, Horticultural Building (west side portion). World's Columbian Exposition Photographs by C. D. Arnold, 1891-1894 collection.
7. World’s Columbian Exposition, 62nd Street Turnstile. World's Columbian Exposition Photographs by C. D. Arnold, 1891-1894 collection.
8. Acme Novelty Datebook #1 by Chris Ware. Montréal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2003.