AnniversaryQuilt Designed by Karen Witt

Pages1 & 2

1876 in America was “the year of the great anniversary.”This was the year of our nation’s 100th birthday, and there was much tocelebrate. There was tremendous industrial growth after the Civil War, and thecountry was on the brink of becoming the major manufacturing force of the world.

One particular celebration took place in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Over100,000 people came to see the great displays of machines, inventions, andamusing spectacles. The great Machinery Hall covered 14 acres and housedmachines to saw logs, spin cotton and print newspapers. Most stunning was the700 ton Corliss steam engine, generating 2500 horsepower to the hall. It wassaid that the intent of this exhibition was to present to the rest of the worldthat the United States was the leader in technological achievement.