{
  "id": 18939213,
  "title": "Chicago's 1893 World's Fair had a two-speed moving sidewalk for five cents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/chicagos-1893-worlds-fair-had-a-two-speed-moving-sidewalk-for-five",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-08T12:39:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/chicagos-1893-worlds-fair-introduced-an-unusual-attraction-a-two-speed-moving-sidewalk-that-carried-visitors-from-the-steamship-pier-to-the-peristyle-at-3-mph-or-6-mph-for-five-cents/articleshow/135629843.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, United States, introduced a first-of-its-kind moving walkway at its entrance. The attraction, which extended over a kilometer along a pier, operated at two distinct speeds - three miles per hour and six miles per hour. Passengers could choose their preferred pace by utilizing the separate levels of the walkway, which carried them from the steamship landing to the Peristyle. The fare for this unique mode of transport was five cents.\n\nWhile the precise length and capacity of the walkway remain unknown, the guide provided key details about its function and location. The structure consisted of a continuous double platform, with one side moving at a slower rate and the other at a faster rate. This dual-speed system allowed passengers to move along the same route at their chosen speed. The walkway served as a vital connection between the pier and the Peristyle, the main entrance to the fair, with twenty turnstiles located there for ticket sales.\n\nThe moveable sidewalk was just one of several ways for visitors to navigate the expansive fairgrounds. The Intramural Railway, a rapid railway that circled the grounds, offered an alternative means of transportation. Trains ran at approximately twelve miles per hour and completed a full circuit of the fairgrounds in twenty minutes, with ten-cent fares charged. Additionally, visitors could rent rolling chairs at stations throughout the fair, providing further flexibility in their transportation options.\n\nFor those seeking water-based transportation, electric boats offered a scenic and affordable means of travel. These boats traversed lagoons, the Basin, and the North Pond, with round trips lasting about an hour and costing fifty cents. Gondolas, modeled after those found in Venice, also provided round trips for fifty cents, operated by skilled Italian gondoliers.\n\nSteam launches further expanded transportation options, sailing from the pier to Lake Michigan and back to the South Pond. These launches charged twenty-five cents for the full round trip, adding another viable option for visitors to explore the fair. The guide compiled these various transportation services alongside the land-based alternatives, offering a comprehensive overview of how attendees could navigate the expansive World's Columbian Exposition.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}