Which 1926 Philadelphia exposition marked the 150th anniversary that preceded America250’s 2026 celebration?

The Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition was the Philadelphia fair that marked the 150th anniversary preceding America250’s 2026 celebration.

Held in 1926, the exposition commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It also looked back to Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition, which had celebrated the nation’s 100th anniversary and taken place in the same city.

The 1926 event included exhibition buildings, industrial displays, cultural programs, and attractions intended to present American progress. President Calvin Coolidge delivered the opening address on May 31, while July 4 served as the central anniversary date.

The exposition is sometimes confused with the Centennial Exposition of 1876 because both took place in Philadelphia. Their anniversaries were different: the earlier fair marked 100 years, while the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition marked 150. The 2026 commemoration continues that sequence at 250 years.