He reflects back on how they were able to complete the World Columbian Exposition together and how Millet died during that time period. He was supposed to have been on the Titanic but he missed his chance due to an illness. Eventually, Chicago police discover the hotel’s horrors and put Holmes on trial where he is convicted of murder and hanged on May 7th, 1896.īurnham is on the ship, enjoying everything that it has to offer. He is eventually arrested for insurance fraud in Philadelphia, which leads to a murder investigation that spans several states. Sherlock Holmes’ creditors are growing impatient with his charm and so he flees to Texas.

The man marries three times, murders many people, but gets away with it because he lives near the World’s Fair site. He builds an apartment building on his property, but it has hidden passages and chutes for disposing of bodies. A man arrives and uses a fake name to buy a pharmacy near the fair grounds. They are able to repay their debts before closing down the fair, which was considered a success because of their efforts despite being saddened by Harrison’s assassinationĪ story is unfolding in Chicago as the World’s Fair takes place.

The economy is struggling at this point, so Burnham works with his team to attract record visitor numbers despite not having completed construction on the wheel. Delays and storms delay the construction, but they eventually finish it in time for the fair to open. The exposition was a triumph despite accidents during construction that killed several people.īurnham and his team of architects finally accept a proposal for the world’s first Ferris Wheel. He overcame setbacks such as late drafts from architects, a worldwide recession, and strikes by workers before opening day on May 1st. When Root died of pneumonia at age 41, Burnham took over his role as leader of the project. They had to compete with the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which was built for the 1889 fair. The book contrasts their stories of success versus failure how modern cities provide anonymity gender roles during this time period and how Burnham had a team of people to help him with his work while Holmes was isolated from others.īurnham and Root were chosen to design the 1893 World Exposition. The Devil in the White City is a historical thriller that explores two men who played major roles at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago: Daniel Hudson Burnham, an architect, and H. 1-Page Summary of The Devil In the White City Overall Summary

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