By Mary Giorgio
Nestled in the community of Middlebury, Indiana, sits Krider World’s Fair Garden, a park featuring display and botanic gardens originally conceived for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The garden was the brainchild of Vernon Krider, owner of a wholesale and mail-order nursery. Following the end of the fair, Krider transported his display to Middlebury, where it has remained for the past 85 years.

Vernon Krider began his nursery in 1894. That year, his father gifted him with two acres of land following his high school graduation. Krider planted small berry plants on the land, letting them grow, and cultivating cuttings to begin his nursery. He made his first sale in 1896: $25 for 5,000 raspberry plants. Over time, Krider purchased more land and expanded his offerings. While his business originally began as a wholesale nursery, Krider eventually expanded into mail-order sales. In fact, Krider ran one of the earliest mail-order nurseries in the United States.
The 1933 World’s Fair came at the perfect time for the business. Krider saw the display garden as an opportunity to expand the national market for his mail-order nursery.
The 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, also known as the “Century of Progress International Exposition”, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the City of Chicago. The hottest technology of its day dominated displays, including the famed diesel-powered Zephyr and an extravagant $1.4 million passenger car. Every aspect of the fair was designed to promote feelings of optimism and wonder at what the future might hold (sadly, World War II would erupt six years later).