Opening of the American Centennial Exhibition: Official Procession...1876. Creator: Melton Prior

Opening of the American Centennial Exhibition: Official Procession through the Exhibition Building, from a sketch by our special artist, 1876. 'The Great International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures, held at Philadelphia, upon the occasion of the Centennial Festival of the United States' Declaration of Independence, was opened...with entire success by General U. S. Grant, President of the United States...[He said] "It has been thought appropriate...to bring together in Philadelphia for popular inspection specimens of our attainments in industrial matters and fine arts, in literature, science, and philosophy...[in] agriculture and commerce, that we may the more thoroughly appreciate the excellences and deficiencies of our achievements, and also give emphatic expression to our earnest desire to cultivate the friendship of our fellow-members of this great family of nations'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876. Creator: Melton Prior. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)