Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: The Fair in what U.S. city was called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition?

New Orleans
Kansas City
Baton Rouge
St. Louis

The correct answer is St. Louis

So why is this answer correct? : The 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri was a celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. At the time of the fair, St. Louis was the fourth-largest city in the territory that had been acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. St. Louis intended the fair to showcase the progress the city had made in the century since it joined the union.

Trivia: What kids’ author was inspired by Chicago’s “White City” World’s Fair?

Frank L. Baum
Beatrix Potter
Roald Dahl
Beverly Cleary

The correct answer is Frank L. Baum

So why is this answer correct? : Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair was dubbed the “White City” for the electric lights that illuminated the fairgrounds day and night. The lights and marvels of industry on display inspired Frank L. Baum to create “The Wizard of Oz’s” sparkling Emerald City. In his 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Baum wrote, “[I]f you did not wear spectacles the brightness and the glory of the Emerald City would blind you.”

Trivia: What aired on the first TV broadcast at the New York World’s Fair in 1939?

Disney float parade
Speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Hot dog eating contest
Ribbon cutting ceremony

The correct answer is Speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt

So why is this answer correct? : On April 30, 1939, the New York’s World Fair opened with a speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, broadcast live by NBC from the RCA pavilion. The speech was transmitted from mobile camera trucks to the main transmitter on top of the Empire State Building. The broadcast was only shown inside the fairgrounds, but later that year, NBC began a regular slate of live programming.

Trivia: Which Heinz condiment made its debut at the 1876 Fair in Philadelphia?

Salad dressing
Ketchup
Relish
BBQ sauce

The correct answer is Ketchup

So why is this answer correct? : In 1876, Henry J. Heinz’s original tomato “catsup” debuted in Philadelphia at a small booth with little fanfare. But at the next World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893, he drew people to his booth by giving away free pickle charms with the Heinz logo. More than 1 million people flocked to the booth for a charm, and while there, they sampled ketchup. After that, the condiment took off around the world.

Trivia: Which everyday kitchen appliance debuted at the 1893 fair in Chicago?

Dishwasher
Toaster
Microwave
Convection oven

The correct answer is Dishwasher

So why is this answer correct? : In 1886, inventor Josephine Cochran received a patent for a dishwasher that she created in a shed behind her house. It was the first dishwasher to use water pressure to clean dishes instead of manual scrubbing. Initially, her ingenious machine was only sold to hotels and large restaurants. It wasn’t until the 1950s that Cochran’s design became popular in homes.

Trivia: What popular vehicle was first unveiled at the 1964 New York World’s Fair?

Mini Cooper
Volkswagen Beetle
Ford Mustang
Chevy Corvette

The correct answer is Ford Mustang

So why is this answer correct? : At the 1964 fair in New York City, the Ford Motor Company gave the public the first glimpse of its newest car: the Mustang. The vehicle went on to set an industry record for sales during its first year. Ford expected to sell about 150,000. Instead, it sold a whopping 418,000 units. Since then, the Ford Mustang has become an American automotive icon.

Trivia: Which one of these inventions was NOT introduced at a World’s Fair?

Cherry Coke
X-ray
IMAX movies
Peanut butter

The correct answer is Peanut butter

So why is this answer correct? : Cherry Coke debuted to the public at the 1982 Knoxville World’s Fair, and X-rays were first unveiled at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. The first IMAX movie premiered at the 1970 World’s Fair in Osaka Japan. Peanut butter did not debut at a World’s Fair, but rather at a health sanitarium run by nutritionist John Harvey Kellogg in 1895.

Trivia: A replica of which Greek landmark was made for Nashville’s 1887 fair?

Acropolisi
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Parthenon
Temple of Poseidon

The correct answer is Parthenon

So why is this answer correct? : The Tennessee Centennial Exposition was a six-month-long celebration of Tennessee’s 100th anniversary of statehood. The fair was held in Nashville, which was known as the “Athens of the South” due to its emphasis on higher education. The state marked the historic event with construction of an exact replica of Greece’s Parthenon, complete with replicas of the Elgin marbles. The replica also served as the fair’s Fine Arts Building, housing a total of 1,175 art objects.

Trivia: What European city held the first World’s Fair in 1851?

London
Amsterdam
Rome
Barcelona

The correct answer is London

So why is this answer correct? : London’s 1851 Great Exhibition is considered the first World’s Fair because it was the first international exhibition. Representatives from Europe and the Americas displayed their latest wares and inventions forged in the fires of the Industrial Revolution. The fair was held in the Crystal Palace, a massive glass building that cast natural sunlight on objects that were usually confined to dark factories.

Trivia: Which American city was the first to host a World’s Fair?

Philadelphia
New York City
Chicago
San Francisco

The correct answer is Philadelphia

So why is this answer correct? : The first modern World’s Fair was held in London in 1851, and the first time the exhibition came across the pond was for America’s centennial in 1876. Appropriately, the fair was held at the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence: Philadelphia. Thirty-seven countries participated in the event held in Philly’s Fairmount Park, and nearly 10 million visitors stopped by the expo. The exhibits included the Statue of Liberty’s right arm and torch, and the Corliss Steam Engine.