Which 1876 Philadelphia event marked the centennial of American independence?

The Centennial Exposition marked the centennial of American independence in Philadelphia in 1876.

Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine, the event showcased industrial inventions, agricultural products, art, and international exhibits. It was held in Fairmount Park and became the first major world’s fair in the United States.

The exposition connected the nation’s 100th anniversary with technological and industrial progress. Notable buildings included Memorial Hall and Machinery Hall, while Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated an early telephone at the fair.

The event is an important predecessor to later national anniversary celebrations, including the 1926 sesquicentennial and 1976 bicentennial. It is sometimes confused with later expositions in the United States, but the Centennial Exposition specifically commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.