Cities historically have showcased the height of human achievement in technology and culture. Innovations in architecture, civil & structural engineering, and infrastructure have inspired some of the greatest monuments in the greatest cities of our time. Since the mid-19th century, the World’s Fair has been a breeding ground for these innovations as the host cities seek to outshine their predecessors and establish themselves on the world stage with ever more daring feats of invention. National pride is defined through architecture, monumentality, and a grand sense of place-making that lives far beyond the duration of the Fair itself. These four City Plates celebrate visionary thinking and look at four great cities: past, present, and future.