A century and a half ago, nearly ten million people descended on Philadelphia to witness a spectacle unlike anything before seen in the United States. The Centennial Exposition left a temporary mark on the city’s Fairmount Park but made a permanent impact on American culture. A generation was inspired by what they saw there: from industrial innovations to kinds of food nobody had ever seen, exhibits showcased the latest discoveries and inventions within gleaming, spectacular spaces, most constructed to be temporary.
What were the lasting effects of the Exposition? How did it influence architecture, cultural awareness, and other aspects of everyday life? Join us for an engaging series of presentations on the Exposition that changed America’s perception of itself.
The Symposium
Get ready for nearly a full day of presentations from some of the Philadelphia area’s most respected historians. From 9:30 am to 3:00 pm (timing subject to change), you will enjoy a series of engaging illustrated talks on a wide range of topics relating to the 1876 Centennial Exposition. Programs will be split into morning and afternoon sessions with a lunch break in between. Attendees may come and go as they please.
The Venue
We are thrilled to be holding this event in the historic Parish Room of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia at 2125 Chestnut Street. The church was built from a design by Frank Furness in the years just after the Centennial Exposition in Furness’s unique and exuberant style.
The Speakers
The full slate of speakers and presentations will be announced soon. The program will include:
- Ted Xaras : Railroads of the Centennial
- George Poulin : West Philadelphia in 1876
- John Hepp : A tale of two cities, separated by a wooden fence: The built environment of the Centennial compared with surrounding West Philadelphia
- Greg Prichard : The Scattered Afterlives of Centennial Buildings
- Sara MacDonald : The Centennial, the City, the School: The Beginnings of the University of the Arts
… with more to be announced soon!
Registration & Tickets
We have worked hard to make this symposium affordable to all. Tickets include a full day of programs with refreshments along the way.
- $25: General Admission
- $20: SAH Phila. Chapter and University City Historical Society Members
- $15: Students
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Get your tickets now to reserve your spot.
REGISTER HERE!
Please send questions to info@philachaptersah.org.
The symposium is co-sponsored by the University City Historical Society.
Can’t get enough of the Centennial? Visit Center City District’s Revisit 1876 Exhibit at the Lits Building, corner entrance, 8th & Market Sts. Open Monday-Saturday, June 25 – December, 10 am-6 pm