The World's Columbian Exposition (the official shortened name for the World's Fair: Columbian Exposition; also known as The Chicago World's Fair) was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington; D.C.; and St. Louis for the honor of hosting the fair. The fair had a profound effect on architecture; the arts; Chicago's self-image; and American industrial optimism.