The Centennial International Exhibition was the first World's Fair held in the United States. Commemorating the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted the Centennial Exhibition from May 10 to October 10, 1876. Although its formal name was the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, the official theme of the exposition was the United States centennial celebration. Boasting 250 separate pavilions, the Centennial Exposition attracted approximately nine million visitors and showcased the United States' scientific and technological innovations, achievements in art and culture, and advancements in trade and industry accomplished during its short history.
Jackson, Anna. Expo: International Expositions, 1851-2010 . London: V&A Publishing, 2008.
From the guide to the Centennial Exposition scrapbook, 1876, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)
