CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION, INTERNA TIONAL. An international exhibition of arts, manufactures, and products of the soil and mines, held in Philadelphia, Pa., from Alay 10 to November 10, 1876. The exhibition was de signed as a celebration of the one hundredth anni versary of the Declaration of Independence. and to illustrate the progress and industrial develop ment which had taken place since that event. The project was originally pr-posed by an asso eiation of citizens of Philadelphia in 1870• and was officially authorized by Congress on -March 3, IS71, when a centennial commissitm, of which Joseph II. 'Hawley became president, was named by President Grant. This commission, on May 12, 1873, appointed Alfred T. Goshorn director general, under whose immediate direction the various subordinate officers were then chosen. The funds for the exhibition were obtained from the following appropriations: City of Philadel phia, $1,500,000; State of Pennsylvania, $1,500, 000; Congress, $1,500,000: and private subsi!rip dons, $2.300.000. A site in Fairmount Park. com prising an area of 236 acres, Was ilICIOS1-41, within which more than 200 buildings were erected. Of these, the Alain Building, a structure of iron and glass, was designed for the exhibition of manu factures, it•(du•ts of mines and metallurgy, and various objects showing the development of sci ence and education of all nations. It covered an area of 20 acres, and was 1SSO feet long by 464 feet wide; Alaehinery 1Ta 11, next in size, was 1402 feet long by 360 feet wide, and was constructed of wood, with iron ties and struts into large traces upon piers of solid masonry; Agricultural Hall was S20 feet long by 540 feet wide, and was of wood and glass; llo•tiettltural 11all. of iron and glass, in the Moorish style of arehitecture. was 3s3 feet long by 103 feet wide; and Alemorial Hall. of granite, glass, and iron, in the modern Renaissance style of architecture. was used as an art and was 3(15 feet long by 210 feet wide and 80 feet in height, costing $1.500,000, This building was constructed in permanent form, and has been used as an art museum. The
smaller buildings were erected at the expense of various countries, States, and individual firms. In neeordanec with an act of Congress of June 5, Is74, the President invited foreign govern ments to be represented and take part in the in ternational exhibition. Forty-nine foreign g,ov crnments and dependencies responded to this invitation; and many, in addition to sending im portant exhibits of their products. erected build. ings m the grounds for the use of their respective ennuis The exhibits, of which there were upward of 50.000, were classified in 36 groups, each of which was subdivided into classes, and these in turn were again subdivided into smallerdivisions. They were examined by a jury of awards, of which Francis A. Walker was chief, composed of 233 judges, of whom 1 1S; were foreign and 115 American. Awards, consisting of a diploma and a medal, were granted to 13,101 exhibitors. 7802 being given to foreign countries and 5302 to the United States. The total number of admissions was 9,910,9416, of wide], S,004.274 were paid. The largest number of persons admitted on any one day was on Pennsylvania Day (September 2S), when 274,919 persons entered the grounds. Dur ing the exhibition the Governors of the various States were invited to accompany excursions to the fair, where usually receptions were held in the State building:. By such means, interest was stimulated. and citizens generally took advantage of these excursions to visit the ex hibition. from each State and Territory were invited to deliver addresses upon its history, progress, present condition, and re sources; also various organizations held meet ings on the exhibition grounds on special days. There were. also, the following official ceremonies connected with the exhibition: Opening exer cises, on llay lO: centennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4; dis tribution of awards to exhibitors, on September 27 : and closing exercises, on November 10.