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The Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926 was a world's fair hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the 50th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial Exposition.

The honor of hosting this celebration was awarded to Philadelphia in 1921. Initial grand plans were scaled down tremendously by the time the fair opened. The original director of the exposition, Colonel David C. Collier, resigned in protest over these budget cuts.^[1] His replacement, Captain Asher C. Baker, retired due to illness days before the festival opened, leaving things in the hands of E. L. Austin.^[2] Baker died less than two weeks later.^[3]

The chief designer of the exposition was a young Louis Kahn, later a world-renowned architect.

The fair ran from May 31 through November, 1926 at League Island Park (now known as FDR Park, in South Philadelphia. The main grounds of the exposition were bounded by 10th Street, Packer Ave., 23rd Street, and the U.S. Navy Yard (Terminal Avenue). The fair's main trolley station was located where the Wachovia Spectrum now stands.

Organizers constructed an 80 foot replica of the exposition's symbol, the Liberty Bell, covered in 26,000 light bulbs, at the gateway to the festival. John F. Kennedy Stadium, originally known as Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, was built in conjunction with the fair. Also on display at the exposition was the Curtis Organ, still one of the largest pipe organs in the world.

Key speakers at the opening ceremonies were Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg, Secretary of Commerce and future President Herbert Hoover and Philadelphia Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick.^[4]

The fair drew a much smaller crowd than anticipated (about 10 million people). It ended up unable to cover its debts and was placed into receivership in 1927, at which point its assets were sold at auction.^[5]

Diagram of the grounds of the 1926 Sesqui-Centennial Exposition.

1. ^ "Collier Quits Directorship of Exposition", Los Angeles Times, 1925-10-30, p. 2.
2. ^ "Exposition Head Retires", New York Times, 1926-05-26, p. 27.
3. ^ "Capt. Baker dead; head of Exposition", New York Times, 1926-06-06, p. 28.
4. ^ "Sesquicentennial opens as sun shines; 100,000 pass gates", New York Times, 1926-06-01, p. 1.
5. ^ City of Philadelphia Information Locator Service entry

• http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/WorldsFair/1926sesqui.htm

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