Ij •< I \ I I \ 1776. i§7 6. ALBUM »?€§*§«=^- BOSTON : COMSTOCK & CLINE, 383 WASHINGTON st, Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by Comstock & Cline, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/centennialalbum100unse CENTENNIAL International Exhibition GENERAL DESCRIPTION. The idea of a centennial exhibition was first suggested by Prof. Campbell of Indiana (now secretary of the commission), in a letter written to Hon. Morton McMichael, mayor of Philadelphia in 1866. This was acted upon by the city council and Franklin Institute. This suggestion took its first practical shape in the act of Congress, March 3, 1S71. This act recited, that the Declaration of Independence, which gave existence to the United States of America, was prepared, signed, and promulgated in the city of Philadelphia ; and that it behooved the people of the United States to celebrate by appropriate ceremonies at its birthplace the centennial anniversary of this memo- rable and decisive event. It was deemed fitting by the Congress, that the manner of its celebration should be an exhibition of the natural resources of the country and their development, and of its progress in those arts which benefit mankind, in comparison with those of older nations. They therefore decreed that an exhibition of American and foreign arts, products, and manufactures should be held under the auspices of the Government of the United States, in the city of Phila- delphia, in the year 1876. As the act incorporating the centennial commission made an explicit proviso that no expense should be incurred for which the government should be held responsible, it became necessary to secure the organization of a financial body in which proper powers should be invested. An act was therefore passed June 1, 1872, to enable provisions to be made for procuring the funds requisite for the preparation and conduce of the inter- national exhibition and memorial celebration. The said corporation was empowered to secure subscriptions of capital stock to an amount not exceeding $10,000,000, to be divided into shares of $10 each ; and to issue to the subscribers of said stock certificates therefor under the corporate seal of said corporation ; the certificates to bear the signature of the president and treasurer, and be transferable under such rules and regulations as might be made for the purpose. And it was made lawful for any municipal or other corporate body, existing by or under the laws of the United States, to subscribe and pay for shares of said capital stock ; and all holders of said stock were by the act made associates in said corporation, and as such entitled to one vote on each share. The exhibition buildings are located in Fairmount Park, which adjoins the built-up portions of Philadelphia on the north-western border. This is a beautiful park of 2,740 acres, upon which the city has already spent over $6,000,000. Through it runs the Schuylkill River bordered by high banks and ravines, and its great natural beauty enhanced by art. The buildings are located on some of the most beautiful spots on the banks of this river ; groves of stately trees surrounding them, splendid views of river and landscape being afforded. These buildings stand from one hundred and twelve to one hundred and twenty feet above the highest tide-water level in the Delaware River, and fully that height above the Schuylkill. Phila- delphia has a population of 800,000 inhabitants, containing 133,000 dwelling-houses, a large proportion of which are owned by their occupants ; and this number is being increased at the rate of 6,000 a year. Girard Avenue, one of the chief streets of Philadelphia, leads directly from the heart of the city to the eastern entrance of the main exhibition building. This is a broad highway 100 feet in width, cross- ing the Schuylkill River upon a magnificent iron bridge, and which was erected at a cost of $1,500,000, expressly to furnish good facilities of access to the exhibition grounds. This avenue passes through the park in a westerly direction, and is a very fine drive. On the left, and fronting the Schuylkill, are the Zoological Gardens, occupying about 35 acres ; which long formed an elegant rural residence, being known as “Solitude,” and rendered historical as the abode of John Penn while he was governor of Pennsylvania. The society who have this in charge have already made a valuable collection of tropical and other animals, to which constant additions are being made. Bordering this avenue on the right are the exhibition grounds. These cover about 236 acres, which are enclosed for the buildings ; in addition to which there will be other enclosures for the display of horses and cattle. Referring to a plan of the grounds within the main enclosure, they appear somewhat like an irregular triangle, having the Main Building and Machinery Hall for its base, and the Agricultural • Hall in its northern angle. To the north-east the grounds make a rapid descent to the Schuylkill. On the west, just outside the enclosure, is located George’s Hill city reservoir, which has a capacity of 40,000,000 gallons. An additional water supply has been provided for the exhibition. Pumping-engines with a capacity of 6,000,000 gallons daily have been located on the Schuylkill near Columbia Bridge. These, together with the city reservoir, will furnish an abundant supply of water. Upon the highest ground of Fairmount Park, a short distance north of the enclosure, has been erected an observatory 150 feet high. This affords a fine view of the buildings, grounds, and sur- t 'unding country. The grounds are divided into three parts by Lansdowne and Bel- ts- rnt Valleys. The southern, by which you first enter, is the largest, and contains the three principal buildings of the exhibition. Entering from the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot by the main entrance, you have first, on either hand, two buildings of twenty-five rooms each. They are devoted to the use of the executive officers. Here is the Custom House, post-office, police and telegraph station. These buildings are to be connected by a spacious veranda with the depot. Passing on to the grounds, on the right stands the Main Building ; on the left, at an interval of 550 feet, Machinery Hall ; and, directly to the front, the Jury Pavilion. The latter building is an ornate two- story structure. This will contain, besides numerous small chambers for the deliberation of the international juries, a large hall for ban- quets and international conventions. Crossing the boulevard running along the northern side of the Main and Machinery Hall, you obtain a view of the entire length of the two buildings. It is more than two-thirds of a mile from the eastern end of the main building to the western end of Machinery Hall. The avenue is one hundred feet wide, and is traversed on its northern side by the narrow-gauge steam railway, communicating with the different buildings. To the west is the lake at the head of Lansdowne Valley. To the east, and facing the centre of the Main Building, at a distance of three hundred feet to the north, stands Me- morial Hall, the most elaborate structure on the grounds. Passing down the boulevard, and through Memorial Hall, and thence down the avenue, you cross Lansdowne Bridge, and enter the central section. Horticultural Hall stands just north of the bridge, on a terrace com- manding a view of the Schuylkill. Romantic ravines running down to the river separate this portion of the grounds from the northern and southern sections. They are spanned by ornamental bridges five hundred feet long and sixty feet wide. Leaving Horticultural Hall by its northern entrance, and passing to the north, on the right stands the German restaurant ; and, crossing Belmont Valley, on the left stands the American restaurant, a light wooden structure with ample verandas ; and directly to the north the Agricultural Hall. A short distance to the west you come to Belmont Avenue, a broaa thoroughfare, leading back to the main entrance in a south-easterly direction. On your left, as you enter Belmont Avenue, stands the Southern restaurant ; on the right, a tier of lots following the western boundary, devoted to the use of the different States. These are intended to be characteristic buildings. Ohio is erecting one of Ohio sandstone from her different quarries. Passing down the avenue, on the right stands the Women’s Pavilion, a unique structure erected by the women of America at an expense of $30,000. On the right stands the government building. The size and style of this structure will place it among the first buildings of the exhibition. This is to contain the collection provided for by an executive order of the President, of “ such articles and materials as will, when presented in a collective exhibition, illustrate the functions and admin- istrative faculties of the government in time of peace, and its resources as a war power, and thereby serve to demonstrate the nature of our institutions, and their adaptation to the wants of the people.” The last Congress provided for the expenses of this exhibition by an appropriation of $505,000 ; and its preparation has been intrusted to officers representing the War, Treasury, Navy, Interior, Post Office, and Agricultural Departments, and the Smithsonian Institute. West of the government building, beyond two little lakelets, stand the buildings of the British legation. Their heavy stacks of chimneys give them quite an antique appearance. Many foreign nations will erect buildings for their own use. There will probably be some 200 or 250 buildings for the use of the exhibi- tion. There will be some seven miles of roads and walks. The West End narrow-gauge Railway will make a circuit of the grounds. There will be a station at each of the buildings for the accommodation of visitors. For a more minute description it will be well to treat on the principal buildings separately, commencing with the MAIN BUILDING. This is a parallelogram running east and west, 1,880 feet long, and north and south 464 feet wide. The larger portion is one story high, the interior height being 70 feet, and the cornice on the outside 48 feet from the ground. Atfhe centre of the longer sides are projections 416 feet in length, and on the ends of the building projections 216 feet in length. In these, which are in the centre of the four sides, are located the main entrances, which are provided with arcades upon the ground floor, and central fagades go feet high. The east entrance will form the principal approach for carriages, visitors alighting at the doors of the building under cover of the arcade. The south entrance will be the principal approach from railway cars. The west entrance opens upon the main passage-way to two principal buildings, the Machinery and Agricultural Halls, and the north entrance to Memorial Hall (Art Gallery). Towers 75 feet in height rise at each corner of the building. The main building gives 936,008 square feet of surface, or nearly 21-J acres. Its ground plan shows a central avenue 120 feet in width, and 1,832 feet in length, which is the longest avenue of that width ever introduced into an exhibition building. The foundations consist of piers of masonry, the superstructure being composed of wrought-iron columns placed 24 feet apart, which support wrought-iron roof-trusses. There are 672 of these columns in the entire structure, the shortest being 23 feet and the longest 125 feet long. Their aggregate weight is 2,200,000 lbs. The roof-trusses and girders weigh 5,000,000 lbs. Turrets surmount the building at all the corners and angles ; and the national standard, with appropriate emblems, is placed over each of the main entrances. There are numerous side-entrances, each being surmounted with a trophy show- ing the national colors of the country occupying that portion of the building. Offices for the foreign commissions are placed along the sides of the building, in close proximity to the products exhibited. Offices for the administration are at the ends. THE ART GALLERY. The most imposing and ornate of all the structures is Memorial Hall, built, at a cost of $1,500,000, by the ^tate of Pennsylvania and City of Philadelphia. This is to be used during the Exhibit'ipn as an Art Gallery, after which it is designed to make it the receptacle of an industrial and art collection similar to the famous South Kensington Museum at London. It stands on a line parallel with, and a short distance northward of, the Main Building, and is in a commanding position, looking southward across the Schuylkill over Philadelphia. It stands upon a terrace 122 feet above the level of the Schuylkill. Being designed for an absolutely fireproof structure, nothing combus- tible has been used. The design is modern Renaissance. It covers an acre and a half, and is 365 feet long, 210 feet wide, and 59 feet high, over a spacious basement 12 feet high. A dome, rising 150 feet above the ground, surmounts the centre, capped by a colossal ball, from which rises the figure of Columbia. The main front of this building looks southward, displaying a main entrance in the centre, consisting of three enormous arched doorways, a pavilion on each end, and two arcades connecting the pavilions with the centre. The en- trance is 70 feet wide, to which there is a rise of 13 steps. Each of the huge doorways is 40 feet high and 15 feet wide, opening into a hall. Between the arches of the doorways are clusters of columns terminating in emblematic designs illustrative of science and art. The doors are of iron, relieved by bronze panels, displaying the coats of arms of all the States and Territories. The United States coat of arms is in the centre of the main frieze. The dome is of glass and iron, of unique design. While Columbia rises at the top, a colossal figure stands at each corner of the base of the dome, typifying the four quarters of the globe. In each pavilion there is a large window 12^ feet by 34 feet. There are garden-plots each 90 feet by 36 feet, ornamented in the centre with fountains, and intended to display stat- uary. The arcades are highly ornamented, and the balustrades of them and of the approaching stairways are also designed for statuary. The grand balcony is a promenade 275 feet long and 45 feet wide, elevated 40 feet above the ground, and overlooking to the northward the beautiful grounds of the Park. On each front of the buildings the entrances open into halls 82 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 53 feet high, decorated in modern Renaissance. These, in turn, open into the centre hall, 83 feet square, the ceiling rising over it 80 feet in height. From the east and west sides of this centre hall extend the galleries, each 98 feet long, 48 feet wide, and 33 feet high. These galleries with the centre hall form a grand hall 2S7 feet long and 83 feet wide, capable of comfortably accommodating 8,000 persons. This is nearly twice the dimensions of the largest hall in the United States. This fine building gives 75,000 square feet of wall space for paintings, and 20,000 square feet of floor space for statues, &c. The skylights throughout are double, the upper being of clear glass and the under of ground glass. MACHINERY BUILDING. This structure is located about 550 feet west of the Main Exhibition Building; and, as its north front stands upon the same line, it is prac- tically a continuation of that edifice, the two together presenting a frontage of 3,824 feet, from their eastern to their western ends, upon the principal avenue within the grounds. This building consists of a main hall 1,402 feet long, and 360 feet wide, with an annex on the southern side 208 feet by 210 feet. The entire area covered is 558,440 square feet, or nearly I3'acres; and the floor space afforded is about 14 acres. The chief portion of the building is one story in height, the main cornice upon the outside being 40 feet from the ground, and the interior height to the top of the ventilators in the avenues 70 feet, and in the aisles 40 feet. To break the long lines of the exterior, projections have been introduced upon the four sides; and the main entrances are finished with fa9ades extending to 78 feet in height. The eastern entrance will be the principal approach from railways and from the Main Exhibition Building. Along the southern side are placed the boiler-houses, and such other buildings for special kinds of maehinery as may be required. The plan of the Machinery Building shows two main avenues 90 feet wide, with a central aisle between, and an aisle on either side, these being 60 feet in width. These avenues and aisles together have 360 feet width, and each of them is 1,360 feet long. This Machinery Building has very superior facilities for shafting, and double lines will be introduced into each avenue and aisle at a height of about 20 feet. A Corliss steam-engine of 1,400 horse-power will drive the main shafting. There will also be counter-lines of shafting in the aisles, and special steam-power furnished where neces- sary. Steam-power is to be furnished fiec to exhibitors. In the annex for hydraulic machines there is a tank 60 feet by 160 feet, with 10 feet depth of water. It is intended to exhibit all sorts of hydraulic machinery in full operation ; and at the southern end of the tank there will be a waterfall 35 feet high by 40 feet wide, supplied from the tank by the pumps on exhibition. THE AGRICULTURAL BUILDING. This building will illustrate a novel combination of materials, mainly wood and glass, and will consist of a long nave crossed by three transepts, each being composed of truss-arches of Gothic form. The nave will be S20 feet long by 125 feet in width, with a height of 75 feet from the floor to the point of the arch. The central transept will be 100 feet wide and 75 feet high, and the two end transepts 80 feet wide and 70 feet high. Its interior appearance will resemble that of a great cathedral; and, in looking from transept to transept, the vista will be extremely imposing. A portion of this building will be supplied with steam-power for the use of agricultural machinery. The four courts enclosed by the nave and transepts, and also the four spaces at the corners of the building, having the nave and end transepts for two of their sides, are to be roofed, and will form valua- ble spaces for exhibits. The ground plan of the building is a paral- lelogram 540 feet by 820 feet, covering about 10J acres. HORTICULTURAL BUILDING. The city of Philadelphia made a liberal grant of money to provide for the horticultural department of the Exhibition an extremely ornate and commodious building, which is designed to remain in permanence as an ornament of Fairinount Parle. This building is designed in the Moresque style of architecture of the twelfth century, the chief materials externally being iron and glass, supported by fine marble and brickwork The building is 3S3 feet long, 193 feet wide, and 72 feet high to the top of the lantern. Tire main floor is occupied by the central conservatory, 230 feet by 80 feet, and 55 feet high, surmounted by a lantern 170 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 14 feet high. Running entirely around this conservatory, at a height of 20 feet from the floor, is a gallery 5 feet wide. On the north and south sides of this principal room are four forcing-houses for the propaga- tion of young plants, each of them 100 feet by 30 feet, and covered by curved roofs of iron and glass, which, appearing upon the exterior of the building, present a very fine feature. A vestibule 30 feet square separates the two forcing-houses on each side; and there are similar vestibules at the centre of the east and west ends, on either side of which are apartments for restaurants, reception-rooms, offices, &c. The east and west entrances to the Horticultural Building are approached by flights of blue marble steps, from terraces 80 feet by 20 feet, in the centre of each of which stands an open kiosk 20 feet in diameter. Each entrance is beautified by ornamental tile and marble work; and the angles of the main conservatory are to be adorned with eight attractive fountains. Extensive heating arrange- ments are provided in the basement, which is of fireproof construc- tion. Surrounding this building there are thirty-five acres of ground, which will be devoted to horticultural purposes. STREET CARS. The following six lines run direct to the Centennial Grounds for a single fare of 7 cents, or a package of four tickets for 25 cents : — Chestnut and Walnut Streets. Market Street. Girard Avenue. Peoples’ Line. Arch Street. Race and Vine Streets. Fourth and Eight exchange with Girard-Avenue Line for a single fare of 7 cents. All other cross town lines sell exchange tickets over these lines for 9 cents. AGRICULTURAL HALL jssrainr iUU n©?® WOMEN S PAVILION mwmmmmjL MTmm&mim&iL, jmmmWc E©^®o U. S. COVE RN M ENT BUI )i©2f@o LDINC miiffli ( (ilMM >1)S AM) VlC I.M I Y SHOWING THE APPROACHES BY STEAM AND STREET RAILWAYS irmnn 716 Filbert Street, Philadelphia. LIST OF CENTENNIAL PUBLICATIONS. VIEWS IN THREE COLORS. 1. Art Gallery. 2. Main Building. :S. Horticultural Hall. 4. Machinery Hall. 6. Agricultural nail. 0. Dlrd's-Eyc View. 7. Double. 8. Triple. 9. Quintuple. 10. Octuple. 11. Independence Hall. CENTENNIAL PORTFOLIO. Eight Vlewa In three colon, with Map of Fainnount Park and vicinity CENTENNIAL CABINET. Six Views In black, on tinted Card Board, with Map of Fairmount Park and vicinity. BUSINESS GARBS. Six Viowe, assorted. TINTED ENVELOPES. Six VI owe, assorted . LETTER-HEADS. Six Views, assorted. PRICE LISTS SENT ON APPLICATION. fl5 AST icr.tjF \ (,n/.y. A / 7 / 0 :0,1/ On/.v. DIMENSION OF BUILDINGS. / MAIN BUILDING /MO 2 MACHINERY BUILDING A/02 3. ART GALLERY 366 4. 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