To celebrate the 150-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia was chosen as the site of a grand world's fair in 1926. Several years into the planning, the Sesqui-Centennial Exhibition Association was suffering bad publicity due to budget problems and accusations of mishandling funds. A Women's Committee, comprised of some of the most influential women in Philadelphia at the time, was formed and met for the first time in October of 1925. The goal of this committee was to change the public perception of the Exposition, as well as create exhibitions that would attract visitors. The largest and most popular of the exhibits they created was a replica of "High Street" (present-day Market Street, Philadelphia) as it appeared in 1776. The High Street exhibit was comprised of replica homes and businesses, and was populated with docents in period dress. Though the Exposition itself was deemed a failure, the exhibits created by the Women's Committee--especially the High Street--were among its few successes.
Bibliography:
Freedman, Ellen. "The Women's Committee and Their High Street Exhibit at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Exposition of 1926." MS thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 1988. http://www.archive.org/details/womenscommitteet00free.
From the guide to the Women's Committee of the Philadelphia Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926 records, Bulk, 1926, 1921-1927, (Strawberry Mansion)
