History of the World's Fair Timeline

The Crystal Palace, designed so it could be recycled to recoup losses, was such a success that it was moved and intended to be permanent, only to be destroyed by a fire in 1936.

Image source: The Crystal Palace

The Argentine Pavilion from the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle was relocated to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where it stood until its demolition in 1932.

A full-scale replica of the Parthenon was built for the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition and stands today in Nashville's Centennial Park, featuring plaster reproductions of the Elgin Marbles and, since 1990, a re-created Athena Parthenos statue.

Image source: Parthenon (Nashville)

The Civic Aquarium of Milan, built for the 1906 Milan Exposition, is still open more than a century later and has been recently renovated. In June 2006 the ICOH celebrated the first century of its life in Milan.

Image source: Civic Aquarium of Milan

The landscaping created by the Olmsted brothers for the 1909 Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition in Seattle still forms much of the University of Washington campus.

Image source: Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition

Large ornamental wooden gates and a pagoda from the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition were brought into the Japanese Tea Garden, itself the last major remnant of the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, making it a rare survivor incorporating features from two separate fairs.

Image source: Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco)

The Empire Exhibition, South Africa was built close to the University of the Witwatersrand; by the late 1970s the university had grown to incorporate the permanent buildings, purchasing further structures including the South African Government Building in 1985.

Image source: Empire Exhibition, South Africa

A special case is the EUR quarter in Rome, built for a World's Fair planned for 1942 but cancelled because of World War II.

Image source: EUR, Rome

Since the adoption of the 1928 Convention Relating to International Exhibitions, the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has served as an international sanctioning body for international exhibitions.

Image source: Bureau International des Expositions

Spain used Expo '92 alongside the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona to underscore its new position as a modern, democratic country and prominent member of the European Union. The Seville pavilions were converted into a technological square and a theme park.

Image source: Expo '92

Since 1995, the interval between two World Expos has been at least five years, and in the 21st century the BIE has moved to sanction World Expos every five years, seen by some as a means to cut expenditure for participating nations.

The semi-regular Milan Triennial art and design exhibition received official international exhibition status from the BIE for 14 editions between 1996 and 2016.

Image source: Triennale di Milano

The main buildings of Expo '98 in Lisbon were completely integrated into the city itself, and many of the art exhibition pieces still remain.

Image source: Expo '98

At Expo 2000 Hanover, countries created their own architectural pavilions investing on average €12 million each. A study by Tjaco Walvis showed improving national image was the main goal for 73% of participating countries, and an independent study estimated the Dutch pavilion generated around €350 million of potential revenues for the Dutch economy. The Portugal Pavilion was later relocated to Coimbra.

Image source: Expo 2000

The home of Satsuki & Mei Kusakabe, built for the 2005 Expo in Aichi, remains operating at its original site in Morikoro Park as a popular tourist attraction, eventually being incorporated into Ghibli Park in 2022.

Image source: Expo 2005

The China pavilion from Expo 2010 in Shanghai, the largest display in the history of the World Expo, is now the China Art Museum, the largest art museum in Asia.

Image source: Expo 2010

Specialized Expos are united by precise themes, such as 'The Living Ocean and Coast', the theme of Expo 2012 Yeosu in South Korea.

Image source: Expo 2012

World Expo 2015 was held in Milan, Italy, from May 1 to October 31, 2015. The Italian Pavilion remains on the original site, the Bahrain Pavilion was relocated to Bahrain, and the Save the Children Italy pavilion was rebuilt as a school for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

Astana, Kazakhstan hosted the most recent Specialised Expo in 2017, themed 'Future Energy'. Specialized Expos are usually united by a precise theme.

Image source: Expo 2017

Like other horticultural expos, Expo 2019 was organized around a precise theme: 'Building a Beautiful Home Featuring Harmonious Coexistence between Man and Nature'. The Chinese Pavilion was brought back to Qingdao, on the site of the 2014 horticultural exhibition.

Image source: Expo 2019

Horticultural expos such as Floriade 2022 carry themes like 'Growing Green Cities'; these joint BIE and AIPH-sanctioned garden fairs feature participants presenting gardens and garden pavilions.

Image source: Floriade 2022

Doha, Qatar held the most recent Horticultural Expo in 2023, under the theme 'Green Desert, Better Environment'.

Osaka, Japan held the most recent World Expo in 2025, continuing the BIE's practice of sanctioning World Expos every five years.

Image source: Expo 2025

The 1939–1940 New York World's Fair took a different approach than earlier fairs, less focused on technology and aimed more at cultural themes and social progress, under the theme 'Building the World of Tomorrow'. Its New York City Building was reused for the 1964 fair and is now the Queens Museum, while the Belgium Pavilion was relocated to Virginia Union University.

Image source: 1939 New York World's Fair

The Atomium still stands at the site of the 1958 Brussels World Fair, whose popular use of the term 'expo' helped establish the naming convention for future events. Until June 2012, the 'American Theatre' on the Expo grounds was frequently used as a television studio by the VRT.

Image source: Atomium

The Space Needle theme building of the Century 21 Exposition, commonly known as the Seattle World's Fair, still stands as a Seattle icon and landmark.

Image source: Century 21 Exposition

The 1964–1965 New York World's Fair carried the theme 'Peace Through Understanding'. Many Disney-created attractions were moved to Disneyland after closing and later duplicated at Walt Disney World, and subway signs directing visitors to Flushing Meadows–Corona Park remain. The New York State Pavilion is mostly derelict but iconic, appearing in Men in Black, with restoration ongoing as of 2019.

Image source: 1964 New York World's Fair

The 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal, promoted as Expo 67, carried the theme 'Man and His World'. Surviving structures include Habitat 67, the Montreal Biosphere, the Jamaica, Tunisia, and French pavilions (now the Montreal Casino). The Montreal Expos baseball team was named for the fair, and organizers retired the term 'world's fair' in favor of Expo.

Image source: Expo 67

San Antonio kept the Tower of the Americas and the Convention Center from HemisFair '68.

Image source: HemisFair '68

The Tower of the Sun was left standing after Expo '70 in Osaka but was neglected until restoration was completed and the museum inside the tower re-opened on March 18, 2018.

Image source: Expo '70

Spokane still has its Riverfront Park, created for Expo '74; the park remains a popular and iconic part of Spokane's downtown.

Image source: Expo '74

The Sunsphere from the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair remains a feature of Knoxville's skyline.

Image source: 1982 World's Fair

The main pavilions of the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair became the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, also known as a shelter of last resort during Hurricane Katrina and host of Miss Universe 2022.

Image source: 1984 Louisiana World Exposition

In Vancouver, many Expo 86 projects were designed as legacy projects for the city.

Image source: Expo 86

The Skyneedle, the symbol tower of Expo '88 in Brisbane, Australia, still stands. In 2018 the World Expo 88 Art Trail was dramatically expanded for the fair's 30th anniversary, forming a major tourist attraction.

Image source: World Expo 88