The 1876 Centennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia to mark 100 years of U.S. independence.
Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, the exposition opened in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park on May 10, 1876. It commemorated the centennial of the Declaration of Independence, which had been adopted in the same city in 1776.
The world's fair displayed industrial, agricultural, artistic, and scientific exhibits from the United States and other countries. Nearly 10 million visitors attended, and 37 countries participated. Its buildings included Memorial Hall and Machinery Hall.
Philadelphia's role in the 1876 centennial is sometimes confused with its later anniversary events. The 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition was also held in Philadelphia, while the 1976 Bicentennial was celebrated nationwide. These repeated associations made Philadelphia a central place in the history of American anniversary commemorations.