Fairmount Park hosted the 1876 Centennial Exposition, an earlier U.S. independence anniversary celebration.
The Centennial Exposition occupied a large section of West Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. The fair opened on May 10, 1876, and closed on November 10. It was organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence while also displaying American industry, science, agriculture, and manufacturing.
The exposition included major structures such as Memorial Hall, Machinery Hall, and Horticultural Hall. Exhibits came from the United States and many foreign countries, making the event both a national anniversary and an international exhibition. The grounds covered hundreds of acres and attracted millions of visitors.
Fairmount Park should not be confused with Independence Hall, where the Declaration was adopted, or Independence National Historical Park, the modern historic district containing Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The 1876 fair was located farther west in the city. Its Philadelphia setting echoed the city’s central role in the events of 1776.