Philadelphia hosted the 1876 Centennial Exposition celebrating America’s 100th anniversary.
Officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, the fair opened in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park on May 10, 1876. It ran until November 10 and was the first official world’s fair held in the United States.
Philadelphia was a fitting location because the city was closely connected with the revolutionary era. The Declaration of Independence had been adopted there in 1776, and Independence Hall remained a central symbol of the nation’s founding.
The exposition attracted about 10 million visitors and included exhibits from 35 countries. Its buildings displayed industrial machinery, agricultural products, art, education, and scientific innovations. The event helped establish Philadelphia as a major center for commemorating the United States’ first century.