In which city was the 1876 Centennial Exposition held?

The 1876 Centennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine, it marked the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The exposition opened on May 10, 1876, in Fairmount Park. More than 9 million visits were recorded during its run, making it a major international showcase for industrial products, technology, art, and agriculture.

Philadelphia was a natural host because the Declaration of Independence and Constitution had both been debated and adopted there. The exposition helped popularize several technologies and products, including Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone demonstration. Its success established a precedent for large national anniversary celebrations, later echoed by the 1926 sesquicentennial and 1976 bicentennial observances.