The 1876 Centennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, the fair ran from May 10 to November 10, 1876. It commemorated the centennial of the Declaration of Independence, which Congress had approved in Philadelphia in 1776.
The exposition occupied Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River. It was the first official world’s fair held in the United States and attracted nearly 10 million visitors. Exhibits showcased manufacturing, science, agriculture, art, and new technologies from the United States and many other countries.
Philadelphia’s role continued in later anniversary celebrations. The city hosted the Sesquicentennial Exposition in 1926, marking 150 years, and remained central to national memory of the Declaration through Independence Hall and other historic sites. The 1876 fair also left surviving landmarks, especially Memorial Hall.