The 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia.
The exposition commemorated 150 years since the Declaration of Independence and followed Philadelphia’s earlier role as host of the 1876 Centennial Exposition. It opened on May 31, 1926, on grounds in South Philadelphia and continued through November.
The fair included a large replica of the Liberty Bell, a stadium built for the event, international exhibits, amusement attractions, and sporting events. The Benjamin Franklin Bridge was also completed in 1926 in anticipation of increased attendance between Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey.
Philadelphia was a logical location because the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration there in 1776. The city’s anniversaries therefore connected civic celebration with the physical places where major founding events occurred. The 1926 exposition was less financially successful than organizers hoped, but it remains an important predecessor to America250.