Editing Centennial Exposition (section)

==Exposition==
[[Image:Centennialhorthall.jpg|thumb|The interior of Horticultural Hall in 1876]]
[[Image:The Centennial Tower Philadelphia 1876.jpeg|thumb|The unbuilt ''Centennial Tower'', a {{convert|1000|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} tower conceived in 1874 by engineers Clarke and Reeves]]
The formal name of the exposition was the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, but the official theme was the celebration of the United States centennial. This was reinforced by promotional tie-ins, such as the publication of [[Kate Harrington (Poet)|Kate Harrington]]'s ''Centennial, and Other Poems'', which celebrated the exposition and the centennial.

At the same time, the exposition was designed to show the world the United States' industrial and innovative prowess.<ref name="images7" /> The exposition was originally scheduled to open in April, marking the anniversary of the [[Battles of Lexington and Concord]], but construction delays caused the date to be pushed back to May 10. Bells rang all over Philadelphia to signal the exposition's opening. The opening ceremony was attended by [[Ulysses S. Grant|President Ulysses Grant]] and his [[Julia Grant|wife]] as well as [[Pedro II of Brazil|Emperor Pedro II of Brazil]] and his [[Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies|wife]]. A cantata commissioned for the occasion written by [[Dudley Buck]] and [[Sidney Lanier]] was performed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Orr |first=N. Lee |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/177069162 |title=Dudley Buck |date=2008 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-03279-0 |location=Urbana |oclc=177069162 |access-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125143214/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/177069162 |url-status=live }}</ref> The opening ceremony concluded in Machinery Hall, with Grant and Pedro II turning on the [[Corliss Steam Engine]] which powered most of the other machines at the exposition. The official number of first day attendees was 186,272 people, with 110,000 entering with free passes.

In the days following the opening ceremony, attendance dropped dramatically, with only 12,720 people visiting the exposition the next day. The average daily attendance for May was 36,000 and for June 39,000. A severe heat wave began in mid-June and continued into July, hurting attendance. The average temperature was {{cvt|81|F|C}}, and on ten days during the heat wave the temperature reached {{cvt|100|F|C}}. The average daily attendance for July was 35,000, but it rose in August to 42,000 despite the return of high temperatures at the end of the month.{{sfnp|Beers|1982|p=466}}

Cooling temperatures, news reports, and word of mouth began increasing attendance in the final three months of the exposition, with many of the visitors coming from farther distances. In September the average daily attendance rose to 94,000 and in October to 102,000. The highest attendance date of the entire exposition was September 28. The day, which saw about a quarter of a million people attend, was Pennsylvania Day. It celebrated the 100th anniversary of the [[Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776]], and exposition events included speeches, receptions, and [[fireworks]]. The final month of the exposition, November, had an average daily attendance of 115,000. By the time the exposition ended on November 10, a total of 10,164,489 had visited the fair.{{sfnp|Beers|1982|p=467}} Among the attendees who were duly impressed by the exposition were [[Princeton University]] sophomore [[Woodrow Wilson]] and his minister father, [[Joseph Ruggles Wilson]], visiting from [[North Carolina]].<ref name=Berg>{{cite book |last=Berg |first=A. Scott |title=Wilson |year=2013 |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-399-15921-3 |page=62 |url=http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399159213,00.html |access-date=November 18, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011902/http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399159213,00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although not financially successful for investors, the Centennial Exposition impressed foreigners with the industrial and commercial growth of the country. The level of exports increased, the level of imports decreased, and the trade balance grew in favor of the United States.