Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition opened on May 10, 1876, during the United States’ centennial year.
Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, the exposition was held in Fairmount Park. It celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence while showcasing American industry, science, agriculture, and manufacturing.
The exposition ran until November 10, 1876. President Ulysses S. Grant attended the opening ceremony, along with Brazil’s Emperor Pedro II. Exhibits came from the United States and 35 other countries.
July 4 was the anniversary date being celebrated, but it was not the exposition’s opening day. Construction delays pushed the opening from an earlier planned date to May 10.