1876
Maker: Lippincott / Centennial Guide Book Company
Antique tourism booklet for the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 by J.B. Lippincott and the Centennial Guide Book Company. Includes two fold-out maps: at the front is a map of the city of Philadelphia titled "Reference Map of a Portion of Philadelphia showing the Principal Points of Interest" and at the back is a "Plan of the Grounds and Buildings of the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, 1876." The booklet discusses the many features of the exhibition as well as travel information for visitors to the city. Maps are in fair to good condition with some small tears along the folds at fold intersections. A previous owner made some tiny marks in pencil on the Exhibition plan. Text booklet is separate from the binding but complete and in good condition. City map measures approx. 16.75 x 12.5 inches to the paper edges and the exhibition plan measures approx. 81 x 24 inches. Original printed color.
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official world's fair to be held in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Officially named the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, it was held in Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River on fairgrounds designed by Herman J. Schwarzmann. Nearly 10 million visitors attended the exposition, and 37 countries participated in it. More than 200 buildings were constructed within the Exposition's grounds, which were surrounded by a fence nearly three miles long. There were five main buildings in the exposition. They were the Main Exhibition Building, Memorial Hall, Machinery Hall, Agricultural Hall, and Horticultural Hall. Apart from these buildings, there were separate buildings for state, federal, foreign, corporate, and public comfort buildings. The Main Exhibition building took eighteen months to complete and cost $1,580,000. The building was surrounded by portals on all four sides. The east entrance of the building was used as an access way for carriages, and the south entrance of the building served as a primary entrance to the building for streetcars. The Centennial Monorail featured a steam locomotive and passenger car that straddled a single elevated iron rail. Mass-produced products and new inventions were on display within Machinery Hall. Inventions included the typewriter and electric pen along with new types of mass-produced sewing machines, stoves, lanterns, guns, wagons, carriages, and agricultural equipment. The exposition also featured many well-known products including Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone, set up at opposite ends of Machinery Hall, Thomas Edison's automatic telegraph system, screw-cutting machines that dramatically improved the production of screws and bolts from 8,000 to 100,000 per day, and a universal grinding machine by the Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company. Air-powered tools along with a mechanical calculator by George B. Grant were exhibited. John A. Roebling & Sons Company displayed a slice of their 5 ¾ inch diameter cable to be used for the Brooklyn Bridge. New food products such as popcorn and ketchup, along with root beer, were also exhibited.
Item Number: TOW806