Philadelphia hosted the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition honored by America’s 250th anniversary.
The exposition took place in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park from May 10 to November 10, 1876. It commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and was the first official world’s fair held in the United States.
More than 9 million visits were recorded during the event, which displayed industrial machinery, agricultural products, works of art, and exhibits from the United States and other countries. The exposition helped present American manufacturing and engineering to an international audience.
The fair’s best-known surviving structure is Memorial Hall, now associated with the Please Touch Museum. The 1876 event is a historical predecessor to the nationwide commemorations planned for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.