What was the name of Philadelphia’s 1926 exposition marking America’s 150th anniversary?

Philadelphia’s 1926 exposition was called the Sesquicentennial Exposition.

The event marked 150 years since the Declaration of Independence. It was held in Philadelphia, the city associated with the Continental Congress and the Declaration, and served as the country’s principal sesquicentennial celebration.

The exposition included exhibits, entertainment, industrial displays, and architectural attractions. Although it attracted large crowds, it was generally regarded as less successful than Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition.

The name describes the anniversary itself: “sesquicentennial” means a 150th anniversary. That term is different from “semiquincentennial,” which describes the 250th anniversary being commemorated by America250 in 2026.