{"id":122931,"date":"2026-10-04T14:58:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T18:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/philachaptersah.org\/?page_id=122931"},"modified":"2026-10-24T21:49:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T01:49:46","slug":"centennial-150","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/philachaptersah.org\/index.php\/centennial-150\/","title":{"rendered":"Centennial 150 Symposium | Nov. 21, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s perception of itself.<\/p>\n

The Symposium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get ready for nearly a full day of presentations from some of the Philadelphia area’s most respected historians. \u00a0From 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.<\/p>\n

The Venue<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong>We are thrilled to be holding this event in the historic Parish Room of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia<\/a>\u00a0at 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.<\/p>\n

The Speakers<\/b><\/p>\n

The full slate of speakers and presentations will be announced soon. The program will include:<\/p>\n