Philadelphia hosted the 1876 Centennial Exposition later recalled during America250 planning.
The exposition celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and took place in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. It was the first official world’s fair held in the United States and displayed industrial, agricultural, scientific, and cultural achievements.
Philadelphia was a natural setting because the city was the meeting place of the Continental Congress and the location where the Declaration was adopted and signed. Its Revolutionary-era associations have also made it central to preparations for the 250th anniversary.
The 1876 event should not be confused with the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition or the nationwide Bicentennial celebrations of 1976. Each marked a different anniversary of the United States.