What was the name of Philadelphia’s 1926 exposition honoring the 150th anniversary of U.S. independence?

Philadelphia’s 1926 exposition honoring the 150th anniversary of U.S. independence was the Sesquicentennial Exposition.

The event’s fuller name was the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition. It celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and also marked the fiftieth anniversary of Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition.

The fair opened on May 31, 1926, in South Philadelphia and operated through November. Its grounds included displays, entertainment, an amusement area, and a stadium later known as John F. Kennedy Stadium. An enormous illuminated replica of the Liberty Bell stood near the entrance.

The terminology can be confusing because “centennial” means a 100th anniversary, “sesquicentennial” means a 150th anniversary, and “bicentennial” means a 200th anniversary. The 1926 fair therefore preceded the 1976 Bicentennial and the 2026 Semiquincentennial, each of which commemorated another milestone connected with 1776.