The Devil In the White City Episode is Live!

I'm a little late to the game...wanted to read the book before listening to this one. If you guys are looking for a science-y book, anything by Mary Roach is a winner. Packing for Mars and Stiff are particularly recommended.

I'm a Geologic Engineering major at the Colorado School of Mines and I had no idea there was a decent book that talked about soils engineering, construction, and city planning. Specifically the part when civil engineers would build the sidewalk above the ground floor and allow it to settle and the design of the floating foundation. Had no idea that John Root the guy who built the city was the one behind it.

So I found this on YouTube and found it interesting... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpOQE5KJJds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpOQE5KJJds</a>

I think I may be confused at what you guys' were upset about. May I ask a question to help me understand? If you could go back in time and change something about the white city, what would it be?

610Garage

It was interesting listening to your emotional roller-coaster of a day. I wasn't surprised at what you found/didn't find since while listening to the book I couldn't resist looking at maps old and new of that area. It did sadden me a little that more wasn't left but then I started to compare with other world fairs/Olympics and realized that the remaining monuments are about par for the course. Just a few things stand Sometimes one or two buildings like the Science and Industry museum in Chicago, sure it wasn't the Eiffel Tower, but it was one that was practical to make permanent, much more so than The Ferris Wheel. Glad you got to include Emily Graslie in the show. She seems to always bring sunlight into any conversation.

Great points all. That said, the past isn't really the past, because it still exists in that it shapes the way we think. The past is how we got here, and when something so significant happened so recently and is so gone, it's staggering and makes ya think. I'm with both of you, the fair had a certain fireworks show quality to it, but fireworks are literally flashes (in the pan). There's no pretense with fireworks than it's anything more than a wasteful, explosive moment of awe with little greater significance. But the greatest city in the history of the world feels like it should last for more than a summer, it wasn't real, but it was presented as something that was, and I think that's the rub. -Matt W.

That's a great analogy. The white city wasn't a facade, but a fireworks show. Something that can only be really appreciated during the event. Like the video, the buildings/foe buildings could have lasted, but they would never have the same impact.

610Garage

I didn't start listening yet (I'm about to now), but you're comment reminded me of people with their cellphone cameras. Nobody experiences the present anymore. Its all immediately recorded for the future. I remember going to fireworks on July 4th, looking at the crowd of thousands as fireworks went off over the water. There was a sea of cellphone cameras over the crowd, as everyone was watching the fireworks on their screens as they recorded the event. I thought about the chances that I'd ever watch fireworks at home on YT videos. Unless something crazy happened, like they exploded on an airplane or an alien spaceship shows up, I'm confident I'd NEVER watch fireworks on a YT video, or even sit through a coworker showing me how great the fireworks were on his phone. Fireworks, like so much in life, is meant to be experienced, to feel the sound delay, see reflections off clouds, puffs of smoke drifting away, thinking about war and sacrifice, or how the fireworks are made. I can't help think most people missed the entire experience because they were trying to save the moment for the future, but all that video is just useless, never watched junk taking up storage space, while they're robbed of having actual memories of the event because in a way, they weren't even "there". You say we try to hold onto the past while reaching for the future, but in this case, and many others, it's only about being able to hold onto the past, in the future! Making sure our lives aren't forgotten, while sacrificing the present, where the "real" memories are actually made!

Andy Jones

I'm only part way through, but I have a comment that I don't want to forget. You guys were very melancholy about the fact that there is nothing left of the world's fair. You guys called the white city noise. You seemed upset that it was merely a visual to entertain the people of the time. But isn't that a bit of a selfish view? How many people did the fair entertain? How many people did the fair inspire? What kind of technological advancements were created because of the fair? If I may zoom out here, it seems like we worry about two things. We try holding onto the past, not letting things go. And we try to reach for the future. Like what destin said. He wants to make things for future generations. That's noble. But what about our generation? Don't we need some temporary things? Things that don't make it into the history books? Like those guys with the barbq. There having fun, relaxing, and connecting with each other. And it sounded like they made two new friends. That probably wouldn't have happened if the white city was still there. We can't hold onto the past so much that we dismiss the present. And sometimes, when we work for the future, we neglect the present. Maybe I'm just tired and I'm speaking nonsense. If I am, please tell me. But what I think I am trying to say is, the past is the past and the future is the future. Maybe we should stop worrying so much about the past/future, what will be remembered/what won't, what will fail/what will survive the testament of time, and just make our own mini white city in our own communities. Maybe it is a facade. But, if the intent is there, maybe that is all that is needed to better the world. Even if it is just our own corner of it.

610Garage