Art
In 1933, Chicago hosted the Century of Progress Exposition, a world's fair that drew millions of visitors. This souvenir from the Belgium pavilion—a small token of travel and wonder—captures how ordinary Americans experienced the wider world through shopping and collecting.
Art · Full story
You walk through the fair gates, dizzy with crowds and possibility. The Belgium pavilion glows ahead—wooden beams, painted details, the smell of waffles and European goods. You pause at a counter and choose this small treasure: proof you were here, proof you crossed an ocean without leaving Illinois.
Reflect
What small souvenirs do you keep from places you've visited, and what do they mean to you?