5 Things You Might Not Know About World Expos

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has published a series covering groundbreaking developments emerging out of certain World Expos and features five little-known facts for each. Check each out below via the BIE website.

Expo 1851 London

Expo 1851 London
The first World Expo provided the opportunity for country's to present their culture and products on the global stage. From the invention of the modern toilet to the extravagance of Crystal Palace, Expo 1851 set the stage for the future of world expos.

Expo 1855 Paris

Expo 1855 Paris
In Paris, the expo theme was fine arts, industry and agriculture. Queen Victoria's visit to Expo 1855 Paris was the first visit by an English Monarch to the capital since the coronation Henry VI in 1431 — over 400 years later

Train Expo 1880 Melbourne

Expo 1880 Melbourne
The first World Expo held in the Southern Hemisphere, Melbourne witnessed a total number of visitors equal to 154 percent of its own population. Barbed wire, electric lights and lawnmowers were all inventions introduced at Expo 1880 Melbourne.

Expo 1900 Paris

Expo 1900 Paris
In preparation for Expo 1900 Paris, two extravagant new palaces were built to feature the work of artists from around France. In addition, the first metro line in Paris was established to facilitate transportation to and from the Expo grounds.

Expo 1935 Brussels

Expo 1935 Brussels
In Brussels, international audiences watched Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoons in color for the first time. The economic boost provided by Expo 1935 was much needed during the midst of the Great Depression.

Expo 2000 Hannover

Expo 2000 Hannover
Hannover witnessed the highest number of participating nations than in any previous World Expo. Many pavilions were designed with sustainability in mind, in recognition of the Expo's theme, "“Humankind – Nature – Technology.”

Expo 2010 Shanghai

Expo 2010 Shanghai
With an Expo site the size of over 1,000 football fields and a total attendance of over 73 million visitors, Expo 2010 Shanghai is the largest World Expo in history. World Cities Day was officially adopted by the United Nations to be celebrated globally every year on October 31 to bring awareness to the international challenge of expanding urbanization.

Expo 2015 Milan

Expo 2015 Milan
The World Expo site for Milan was designed with the city's historical Roman roots in mind, with a long East-West road that runs through the center of the World Expo. This Expo site is now being transformed into one of Europe's longest linear parks, providing a social center for the people of Milan.

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