The Centennial-Balloon View of the Grounds

Celebrating America’s Centennial in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park.

The International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine (more commonly known as the Centennial Exhibition) was America’s first world’s fair, held between May and November of 1876 in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Despite the participation of thirty-seven countries and nearly 10 million attendees, the event was a financial failure, but it succeeded in showcasing the industrial growth and economic prowess of the United States during its first century of existence.

This immensely detailed view of the ~285-acre grounds was published close to the end of the fair’s run, but near the height of its popularity, with around 100,000 daily visitors. Dozens of structures are carefully illustrated and labeled, with the immense Main Exhibition Building on the right side. Nearby, the Machinery Building held a massive Corliss Steam Engine that powered the entire hall. Other interesting features include dedicated printing presses, a U.S. Signal Corps encampment, a Temperance Fountain, a model of Paris, and the Department of Public Comfort. The Schuylkill River meanders through the background, through the midst of downtown Philadelphia.

The print was published as a supplement to the September 30, 1876, edition of Harper’s Weekly. It’s based on photographs by R. Newell and sketches by Theodore Davis. A balloon in the upper right probably reflects one means by which the artistry was carried out.