See How America Celebrated its Centennial

Those curious how the United States celebrated its centennial can learn about it firsthand at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums’ new exhibit, “Welcome to the World’s Fair: Philadelphia 1876,” on display March 27 through June 30, 2027.

The Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, a world’s fair which ran for six months in 1876, celebrated American innovations in science, agriculture, industry and the arts. Over the course of the event, an estimated 10 million people traveled from around the globe to attend. Then-Republican presidential Rutherford B. Hayes was one of them, and he spoke in front of 120,000 attendees during the exposition’s Ohio Day.   

“As we celebrate America 250, this exhibit is interesting because it gives us a look into how people have celebrated U.S. independence in the past, and it gives us a glimpse into a grand spectacle that we don’t really see much anymore,” said Kevin Moore, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums’ curator of artifacts, in a March 17 press release.

The first world fair in London in 1851 inspired the creation of the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. After the United States saw the success of England’s event, Congress earmarked funds for a celebration to coincide with the centennial.  

“Welcome to the World’s Fair: Philadelphia 1876” features a display case featured at the exposition that came from Japan. Hayes himself purchased the case, along with two more (for $74.50 each), sending one to the White House and the other two to Spiegel Grove in Fremont, where the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums is located. During the 1876 exposition, the case held artwork from Japan, including silk-screen, porcelain and lacquered items, with many of the pieces depicting birds. For this exhibit, the case will hold commemorative items, including earrings, a cane, medals and plates purchased by visitors during the exposition.

“America wanted to celebrate its progress; its coming of age,” Moore said in the release. “They made it a point that they wanted to invite the European powers. Part of it was to show that we had arrived as a global power.”

For more information, visit rbhayes.org.

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