Which 1876 Philadelphia event marked the 100th anniversary of American independence?

The Centennial Exposition marked the 100th anniversary of American independence in Philadelphia in 1876.

Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine, the event opened in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. It ran from May 10 to November 10, 1876, and celebrated the centennial of the Declaration of Independence.

The exposition displayed industrial machinery, agricultural products, scientific inventions, and cultural objects from the United States and other nations. Among the best-known exhibits were Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone and the Corliss steam engine. The event also showcased the growing industrial and technological ambitions of the United States.

The grounds included Memorial Hall, which survives as a Philadelphia landmark, and the exposition influenced later world fairs. It is distinct from the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition, also held in Philadelphia, and from the 1976 nationwide Bicentennial celebrations. These earlier anniversaries provide historical precedents for America250.