Exposition

a vast show of natural products and the productions of industry and art. The idea is an outgrowth of the commercial fairs of Asia and Europe. The idea of a modern exposition originated with the French. An exhibition of manufactures was held in Paris in 1798. The results justified a second show in 1802. The idea was then taken up by other countries. The first great English exposition or World's Fair was held at London in 1851. An enormous edifice, popularly known as the Crystal Palace, being constructed largely of glass, was erected in Hyde Park. It covered an area of nearly nineteen acres. There were 15,000 exhibitors from all parts of the world, and over 6,000,000 visitors. The gate receipts came within $1,000,000 of defraying the entire expense. In 1855 the great Exposition Universelle was opened at Paris. It exceeded in every way that held in London. From this time on, large expositions were held with increasing frequency. Large exhibitions were held in Paris in 1867, 1878, 1889, and 1899. The latter was visited by between 45,000,000 and 50,000,000 people. The first great exposition in America was the Centennial, held in Fairmont Park, Philadelphia in 1876. In 1893 the World's Columbian Exposition was held at Chicago. The Pan-American Exposition was held at Buffalo in 1901; the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904; the Alaska-Yukon Exposition at Seattle in 1909. Many other notable expositions have been held at San Francisco, Atlanta, Nashville, Omaha, and Charleston. One of the latest to attract general attention was the Lewis-Clark Exposition held at Portland, Oregon, in 1905. See Eiffel Tower; Philadelphia; Centennial