The Fading Pageant of America's Pasts The Great American State Fair, a 16 day extravaganza on the National Mall, has come to an end.
This year's event was part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration, marking the country's history through carefully curated vignettes.
The Ferris wheel and state pavilions have packed up their colorful facades, leaving behind questions about the role of these nostalgia fueled events in contemporary culture.