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Editorial methodology

Expomuseum is a research-driven digital project focused on the documentation, interpretation and preservation of the history of Expos and international exhibitions.

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The information presented throughout the site is compiled from a combination of official reports, government publications, International Exhibitions Bureau (Bureau International des Expositions, BIE) documentation, exhibition catalogs, archival collections, academic works, newspapers, photographs, maps and other historical sources.

Research and interpretation

Historical exhibitions often produced large volumes of material across multiple countries, institutions and languages. As a result, historical records may differ between sources. Attendance figures, participation totals, classifications, dates, architectural attributions and exhibition statistics may vary depending on the source consulted.

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Expomuseum attempts to present the most reliable information available at the time of publication while acknowledging the evolving nature of historical research.

Sources and citations

Whenever possible, information published on Expomuseum is supported by citations, bibliographic references, archival sources, official documentation or other research materials.

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Sources may include:

  • Official reports

  • Government publications

  • BIE sources

  • Exhibition catalogs and guidebooks

  • Academic books and articles

  • Archival materials

  • Contemporary newspapers and periodicals

  • Public domain materials

  • Original photography

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Every source cited on the site, with links to the pages that use it, is listed in our Bibliography.

Editorial independence

Expomuseum is an independent project. Editorial decisions, interpretations and research priorities are determined independently and do not necessarily reflect the views of governments, institutions, organizers or participating countries associated with any Expo or international exhibition.

Ongoing development

Expomuseum is an evolving long-term project. Existing pages may be revised, expanded, corrected or updated as additional research and documentation become available.

Corrections policy

Expomuseum welcomes corrections, additional documentation, historical clarifications and constructive feedback.

 

The history of Expos and international exhibitions spans multiple countries, languages, institutions and archival traditions. As new materials become available, historical interpretations and factual details may evolve over time.

 

If you believe information published on Expomuseum is inaccurate, incomplete or incorrectly attributed, please contact us with supporting documentation whenever possible.

 

Reasonable efforts will be made to review submissions and update content when appropriate.

 

Correction requests and research inquiries may be directed to info@expomuseum.com.

Reliability ratings

Every Expo page on Expomuseum carries a reliability rating from Tier 1 to Tier 5. The rating tells you how complete our record of that Expo is and how strong its sources are, so you can decide whether to cite Expomuseum or go directly to the sources we list.

 

We calculate each rating from the data behind the page, on a scale of 0 to 100:

  • Completeness (35 points): key figures such as participating countries, visits, site area and days open; the depth of the page’s text; and how much of the official participant count our list covers. Figures that cannot exist yet, such as visits for an Expo that has not opened, are not counted against a page.

  • Source authority (40 points): the BIE’s page on the Expo, our reference for dates and categories, and the sources in the bibliography. Archives, libraries, museums, governments, organizers and peer-reviewed research weigh most; reference works and established news outlets follow; community sites count little; Wikipedia lowers the score. Our own publications are listed but never counted.

  • Credibility (25 points): how many independent publishers support the page, how the participant list was documented and whether our figures agree with the BIE’s.

 

Some conditions limit a rating whatever the score: a page whose only source is the BIE’s page cannot rise above Tier 4; an upcoming Expo cannot rise above Tier 3, because its figures are projections; and Tier 1 requires the BIE’s page and at least two primary or scholarly sources.

  • Tier 1, Reference grade (85 to 100): You can cite Expomuseum. For a specific figure, you may also cite the source we list for it.

  • Tier 2, Well sourced (70 to 84): You can cite Expomuseum for overview and context. For formal research, confirm key figures in the sources we list.

  • Tier 3, Developing (55 to 69): Use the page as a starting point, and cite the sources in our bibliography rather than the page.

  • Tier 4, Limited (40 to 54): Background reading only. Please don’t cite figures from the page.

  • Tier 5, Preliminary (below 40): Research in progress. Please don’t cite the page yet.

 

The rating describes our page, not the Expo. A lower tier means our record is still incomplete, not that the Expo matters less. Ratings are recalculated as we add data and sources, and each page shows the date of its latest rating.

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