A century and a half ago, nearly ten million people descended on Philadelphia to witness a spectacle unlike anything before seen in the United States. The Centennial Exposition left a temporary mark on the city’s Fairmount Park but made a permanent impact on American culture. A generation was inspired by what they saw there: from industrial innovations to kinds of food nobody had ever seen, exhibits showcased the latest discoveries and inventions within gleaming, spectacular spaces, most constructed to be temporary.
What were the lasting effects of the Exposition? How did it influence architecture, cultural awareness, and other aspects of everyday life? Join us for an engaging series of presentations on the Exposition that changed America's perception of itself.
This event is co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter Society of Architectural Historians & The University City Historical Society.
University City Historical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.