Philadelphia hosted the 1926 Sesquicentennial International Exposition, a predecessor to America250.
The world’s fair celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and also commemorated the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition. The exposition’s grounds were in South Philadelphia, near the U.S. Navy Yard.
The fair opened on May 31, 1926, and ran through November. Its grounds later became associated with FDR Park, Marconi Plaza, the South Philadelphia sports complex, and other modern developments. The event was part of Philadelphia’s long connection with major national anniversaries.
The city’s role continued into the United States’ 250th anniversary. Philadelphia is one of the historically significant cities designated for special America250 attention because the Declaration of Independence was debated and adopted there. This makes Philadelphia a recurring center of American anniversary celebrations.