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1876 World’s Fair Weekend 2024
June 8 @ 10:00 am - June 9 @ 3:00 pm
June 8th & 9th 10am-3pm
Travel back in time and celebrate the engineering, industry, and culture of Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial International Exhibition. Enjoy machinery demonstrations, pop-up exhibits, Victorian games, family activities, music and food!
Highlights to include:
Guest Lecture on the 1964 Debut of the Ford Mustang at the New York Word’s Fair with Jeff Bliemeister, Executive Director of America’s Transportation Experience, the AACA Museum, Inc at Hershey.
Historical Reenactment of President Ulysses S. Grant’s remarks during the Fair’s opening ceremony & performance by the Antebellum Marine Band
Historic Phonograph demonstrations with Aaron Loyack
Victorian Era Toys Display with Bob Swaim
Pop-up Exhibit with Sigal Museum
Pop-up Exhibit with Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles
Travel & the World’s Fairs Display with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
Tastes of the Centennial sampling station
All World’s Fair Weekend Programming included with regular admission; Youth 12 and under FREE on Sunday
About the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition
145 years ago, in 1876, Philadelphia hosted the Centennial International Exhibition, considered the country’s first World’s Fair. Visitors from 37 countries trekked to the site, located on a sprawling 450 acre campus, with nearly 10 million visitors taking in the sights, sounds, and smells across the span of six months.
Machinery Hall, the second largest building on the grounds, plays an important role in the country’s industrial history. Everything from massive steam engines to intricate woodworking machinery were on display, fully introducing America’s industrial might on the world’s stage for the first time.
