This beautiful bird’s eye view of Philadelphia was created for the Centennial Exposition, held from May 10 to November 10, 1876. Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition was the first official World’s Fair in the United States, and was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.
This print was created by George H. Ellsbury, a prominent 19th century artist whose work was regularly featured in Harpers Magazine. The illustration shows a view of the fair from George’s Hill. The foreground is filled with people of various cultures and ethnicities, representing the people who came from around the world to visit the fair. The sky features historical images from Philadelphia’s past.
Landmarks on the map include the Agricultural Building, Horticultural Building, Main Building, Machinery hall, and Memorial Hall. Memorial Hall was designed to house the Centennial Exposition’s art exhibits, and is the only major structure from the exhibition that remains today.
This historic view of Philadelphia in 1876 has been restored by KNOWOL. Reproductions of the print are available here.
Click to see Philadelphia’s International Expo of 1876
This view of the Philadelphia International Expo of 1876 will make an attractive addition to your office, library, or den and can even be used to teach children the geography and history of the city. When you’re done exploring, click here to get your copy.
