The Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition

Rewind to the late nineteenth century where the United States was far from an economic superpower and an afterthought in the technological industry. A nation that was still recovering from the horrors of the Civil War saw the majority of its citizens living a relatively outdated lifestyle. The United States did not become a world leader for innovation and prosperity overnight, but it received a huge jump start in the late 1870s. One large scale event that generated widespread attention and recognition was the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. In an effort to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the United States declaring independence from Great Britain, there was a fair held in Philadelphia which celebrated freedom while showcasing a plethora of inventions, attractions, and ideas. Attractions present at the fair ranged from
Why should anyone care about a seemingly dull event that occurred over 140 years ago? Well, in an era where photography was in its youth, people were succumbing from diseases that are now eradicated in modern developed nations, and transportation and communication took an eternity, the catalog on display provided a path for advancements in these areas while increasing optimism among Americans heading into the twentieth century. “Historians claim the Philadelphia fair transformed the global image of the United States. Before 1876, Europe had generally viewed the United States as an upstart country” (Weber pg. 54). The Exhibition marked a crucial point in history where the United States began the transformation from being an agrarian centered economy to a manufacturing economy. The United States was further along than the majority of nations across the world, but was far from a superpower; the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876 was one of the main stepping stones that would eventually lead to America reigning supreme over their