What major Philadelphia exposition marked the United States centennial in 1876?
Answer
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial Exposition marked the United States centennial in Philadelphia in 1876.
Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine, the exposition celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It ran in Philadelphia from May 10 to November 10, 1876.
The fair displayed industrial technology, manufactured products, art, and exhibits from the United States and other countries. Its grounds included the Main Exhibition Building, Machinery Hall, and Horticultural Hall in Fairmount Park.
The exposition is an important predecessor to later national anniversary observances. Philadelphia’s connection to the Declaration and the Revolutionary era made it a natural center for the centennial. The 1876 event should not be confused with the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago or the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.