The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair to be held in the US, was held in Philadelphia from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Just ten years after the end of the Civil War, it also charted the course for rapid American industrial expansion.
Officially named the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, it was held in Fairmount Park on fairgrounds designed by Herman J. Schwarzmann. Nearly 10 million visitors attended the exposition and 37 countries participated in it. More than 200 buildings were constructed within the Exposition's grounds, which were surrounded by a fence nearly three miles long.
There were five main buildings in the exposition: Main Hall, Memorial Hall, Machinery Hall, Agricultural Hall, and Horticultural Hall. Apart from these buildings, there were separate buildings for state, federal, foreign, corporate, and public comfort buildings. Built as a temporary structure (as were most of the buildings), the Main Hall was the world’s largest building at the time, covering 21.5 acres. Machinery Hall was the second largest structure in the exposition and was the show case for the state of the art industrial technology that was being produced at the time.
Agricultural Hall hosted exhibits and products related to it's namesake and Horticultural Hall to flowers and plants. The Art Gallery building (now known as Memorial Hall & home to Please Touch Museum) is the only large exhibit building still standing. It became the precursor to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Many nations and states had buildings; the only one left is Ohio House. Two comfort stations (aka bathrooms) also survive. An observation tower, the Centennial Observations Tower, was moved after the fair ended, to Coney Island in NY and rebranded as The Iron Tower. At 300 feet, it stood until 1911, when it was destroyed in a fire.
Many new inventions and products had their public debut at the Centennial including Alexander Graham Bell's telephone, Heinz Ketchup, the typewriter, an early electric light, Hires Root Beer, Band-Aides, Bananas and many more. The right arm and torch of the Statue of Liberty were showcased at the exposition. But, the star of the show, was the Corliss Engine. This steam powered engine towered 45 feet in the air and boasted a flywheel 30 feet in diameter. It powered over 800 machines throughout the exhibit halls and was 30% more efficient than any steam engine of it's time.
Beyond the promotion of the United States as an industrial world power, the Centennial served as reparation to the Civil War, bringing together the states for an event of national significance, the 100th Anniversary of its founding.
Map of grounds Drawing of opening day
Main Bldg, Machinery Hall Inside Agriculture Hall
Corliss Engine Ohio House, recent photo
Comments