The Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations was a World's Fair held in 1853 in what is now Bryant Park in New York City, in the wake of the highly successful 1851 Great Exhibition in London. It aimed to showcase the new industrial achievements of the world and also to demonstrate the nationalistic pride of a relatively young nation and all that she stood for.[1][2]Jacob Aaron Westervelt, at that time Mayor of New York, was the President of the exhibition-committee.[3] The general superintendent was Admiral Du Pont.
Opening on July 14, 1853 with newly sworn President Franklin Pierce in attendance, the fair was seen by over 1.1 million visitors before it closed on November 14, 1854. The fair featured its own glass and iron exhibition building – the New York Crystal Palace – directly inspired by London's.[1] The Palace was destroyed by fire on October 5, 1858.[4]
Walt Whitman, an American poet, wrote "The Song of the Exposition":
... a Palace, Lofter, fairer, ampler than any yet, Earth's modern wonder, History's Seven out stripping, High rising tier on tier, with glass and iron facades, Gladdening the sun and sky - enhued in the cheerfulest hues, Bronze, lilac, robin's-egg, marine and crimson Over whose golden roof shall flaunt, beneath thy banner, Freedom.
Adjoining the Crystal Palace was the Latting Observatory, a wooden tower 315 feet (96 m) high, which allowed visitors to see into Queens, Staten Island and New Jersey. The tower, taller than the spire of Trinity Church at 290 feet (88 m), was the tallest structure in New York City from the time it was constructed in 1853 until it burnt down on August 30, 1856.[5][6]
The exhibition was not financially successful. After a delayed opening due to construction delays, the fair lost $100,000 in its first year. Showman P. T. Barnum was brought in to turn things around, but when the fair closed in November 1854, total losses amounted to $340,000.[7]
Today, the expo is also remembered as the place where Elisha Otis demonstrated an elevator equipped with a device called a safety, which would kick in if the hoisting rope broke. This addressed a major public concern regarding the safety of elevators. Three years later, Otis installed the first passenger elevator in the United States in a New York City store.
^ ab"The World's Fair in New-York". New York Times. July 17, 1852. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
^New York Crystal Palace Exhibition, 1853. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Historical Register of the Centennial Exposition, 1876. Edited by Frank Norton. Frank Leslie's Publishing House, New York, 1877. Pg. 6
^18th Annual Report, no. 13 (1820) by the Bergen County Historical Society, page 61/62
^"Guide to the New York Crystal Palace Records". The New York Historical Society. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
^Staff. "NEW-YORK CITY.; A Conflagration--Destruction of the "Latting Observatory"--$130,000 worth of Property destroyed-Narrow escape of the Crystal Palace. The Knife Again--Probable Murder of a Boy by a Boy. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. Burned to Death.", The New York Times, September 1, 1856. Accessed May 18, 2009.
^Pollak, Michael. "F.Y.I.: Over the Bounding Pond", The New York Times, August 28, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2009.
^Rydell, Robert W.; Findling, John E.; Pelle, Kimberly D., eds. (2000). Fair America: World's Fairs in the United Statex. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. pp. 16–17. ISBN1-56098-968-8.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations (1853).
Full text of 'Official catalogue of the New-York exhibition of the industry of all nations. 1853', archive.org
Guide to the New York Crystal Palace Records, New-York Historical Society
New York Crystal Palace 1853 digital exhibit from the Bard Graduate Center Gallery
February 28, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations was a World s Fair held in 1853 in what is now Bryant Park in New York City in the wake of the highly successful 1851 Great Exhibition in London It aimed to showcase the new industrial achievements of the world and also to demonstrate the nationalistic pride of a relatively young nation and all that she stood for 1 2 Jacob Aaron Westervelt at that time Mayor of New York was the President of the exhibition committee 3 The general superintendent was Admiral Du Pont Exhibition of the Industry of All NationsNew York Crystal PalaceOverviewBIE classUnrecognized expositionNameExhibition of the Industry of All NationsBuilding s New York Crystal PalaceVisitorsover 1 1 millionLocationCountryUnited StatesCityNew York CityVenueBryant ParkCoordinates40 45 14 N 73 59 01 W 40 7538 N 73 9836 W 40 7538 73 9836 Coordinates 40 45 14 N 73 59 01 W 40 7538 N 73 9836 W 40 7538 73 9836TimelineOpeningJuly 14 1853ClosureNovember 14 1854Opening on July 14 1853 with newly sworn President Franklin Pierce in attendance the fair was seen by over 1 1 million visitors before it closed on November 14 1854 The fair featured its own glass and iron exhibition building the New York Crystal Palace directly inspired by London s 1 The Palace was destroyed by fire on October 5 1858 4 Walt Whitman an American poet wrote The Song of the Exposition a Palace Lofter fairer ampler than any yet Earth s modern wonder History s Seven out stripping High rising tier on tier with glass and iron facades Gladdening the sun and sky enhued in the cheerfulest hues Bronze lilac robin s egg marine and crimson Over whose golden roof shall flaunt beneath thy banner Freedom Latting Observatory in 1853 Adjoining the Crystal Palace was the Latting Observatory a wooden tower 315 feet 96 m high which allowed visitors to see into Queens Staten Island and New Jersey The tower taller than the spire of Trinity Church at 290 feet 88 m was the tallest structure in New York City from the time it was constructed in 1853 until it burnt down on August 30 1856 5 6 The exhibition was not financially successful After a delayed opening due to construction delays the fair lost 100 000 in its first year Showman P T Barnum was brought in to turn things around but when the fair closed in November 1854 total losses amounted to 340 000 7 Today the expo is also remembered as the place where Elisha Otis demonstrated an elevator equipped with a device called a safety which would kick in if the hoisting rope broke This addressed a major public concern regarding the safety of elevators Three years later Otis installed the first passenger elevator in the United States in a New York City store Contents 1 Notable exhibits 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksNotable exhibits EditElisha Otis demonstrated an elevator equipped with a device called a safety brake which revolutionized the industry completely David Alter displayed a method to manufacture and purify bromine from salt wells highly useful in the iron industry The world s first pedal quadracycle was shownSee also EditBryant Park current park area on which the event was held 1939 New York World s Fair a later World s Fair in New York City 1964 New York World s Fair another World s Fair in New York City List of world expositions List of world s fairsReferences Edit a b The World s Fair in New York New York Times July 17 1852 Retrieved July 15 2011 New York Crystal Palace Exhibition 1853 Frank Leslie s Illustrated Historical Register of the Centennial Exposition 1876 Edited by Frank Norton Frank Leslie s Publishing House New York 1877 Pg 6 18th Annual Report no 13 1820 by the Bergen County Historical Society page 61 62 Guide to the New York Crystal Palace Records The New York Historical Society Retrieved July 15 2011 Staff NEW YORK CITY A Conflagration Destruction of the Latting Observatory 130 000 worth of Property destroyed Narrow escape of the Crystal Palace The Knife Again Probable Murder of a Boy by a Boy POLICE INTELLIGENCE Burned to Death The New York Times September 1 1856 Accessed May 18 2009 Pollak Michael F Y I Over the Bounding Pond The New York Times August 28 2005 Accessed May 18 2009 Rydell Robert W Findling John E Pelle Kimberly D eds 2000 Fair America World s Fairs in the United Statex Washington D C Smithsonian Books pp 16 17 ISBN 1 56098 968 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations 1853 Full text of Official catalogue of the New York exhibition of the industry of all nations 1853 archive org Guide to the New York Crystal Palace Records New York Historical Society New York Crystal Palace 1853 digital exhibit from the Bard Graduate Center Gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations amp oldid 1119473001, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
