On what date did Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition open in 1876?

Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition opened on May 10, 1876.

The exhibition was intended to open earlier, but construction delays pushed the opening back. Its official title was the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, though it was commonly known as the Centennial Exposition.

President Ulysses S. Grant attended the opening ceremony with his wife, and Emperor Pedro II of Brazil and Empress Teresa Cristina were also present. Bells rang throughout Philadelphia to announce the beginning of the fair. The event continued until November 10, 1876.

May 10 is distinct from July 4, the anniversary date the exposition celebrated. The fair’s purpose was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence while displaying the United States’ industrial and technological progress.