Penland and the 1933 World's Fair

Penland's mountain products had an enthusiastic audience in the 1920's but the Depression seriously eroded this market. The Weaving Cabin at Penland was filled with textiles for which there were no buyers. In desperation, Lucy Morgan convinced the organizers of the Chicago World's Fair, the 1933 Century of Progress, to grant the school a small space for a sales concession. Two replica log cabins were taken to Chicago to serve as sales rooms. The cabin on display was mounted on a truck bed and the second was shipped disassembled. The Fair was a great success for Penland, and the proceeds rescued the school's weaving program.

Lent by Penland School