Mississippi

Promotional map of Mississippi designed for distribution at the Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago.

The 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, known as the Century of Progress Exhibition, was designed to highlight the host city’s tremendous growth since its incorporation as a town in 1833. The theme was technological innovation, and the motto was “Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Adapts.” Despite the ravages of the global Great Depression, dozens of countries participated in the fair, as well as nearly every state in the Union.

Mississippi was no exception, and this map was distributed at the fair to promote the state’s rich industrial and agricultural bounty. Designed by a commission of prominent politicians, the map is a basic overview of transportation routes in the state, with red ink illustrations of major industries superimposed on top. Flanking each side of the image are photographs of various scenes including oyster harvests, cattle (money makers), and historic sites. Additional photographs and information about the state’s resources available on the verso.