Sesquicentennial Exposition

The honor of hosting this celebration was awarded to Philadelphia in 1921. Initial grand plans were scaled down tremendously by the time the fair opened. The original director of the exposition, Colonel David C. Collier, resigned in protest over these budget cuts. [cite news |title=Collier Quits Directorship of Exposition|work=Los Angeles Times|date= 1925-10-30|page=2] His replacement, Captain Asher C. Baker, retired due to illness days before the festival opened, leaving things in the hands of E. L. Austin. [cite news |title=Exposition Head Retires|work=New York Times|date= 1926-05-26|page=27] Baker died less than two weeks later. [cite news |title=Capt. Baker dead; head of Exposition|work=New York Times|date= 1926-06-06|page=28]

The senior draftsman for the design of the exposition buildings was a young Louis Kahn, later a world-renowned architect, then working under City Architect John Molitor. [ [http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ar_display.cfm/21829 Kahn, Louis Isadore (1901-1974) - Philadelphia Architects and Buildings ] ]

The fair opened on May 31st, 1926, and ran through November on grounds bounded by 10th Street, Packer Avenue, 23rd Street, and the U.S. Navy Yard (Terminal Avenue) in South Philadelphia. Originally known as League Island Park, these grounds are now occupied by FDR Park, Marconi Plaza, Packer Park Residential Neighborhood, the four facilities of Philadelphia's massive South Philadelphia Sports Complex (Wachovia Spectrum. Wachovia Center, Lincoln Financial Field, and Citizens Bank Park), and the Philadelphia Eagles training complex which now occupy that portion of the grounds which from 1933 to 1993 were the site of Philadelphia Naval Hospital (demolished 2001).

, was built in anticipation of the attending crowds.

Key speakers at the opening ceremonies were Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg, Secretary of Commerce and future President Herbert Hoover, and Philadelphia Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick. [cite news |title=Sesquicentennial opens as sun shines; 100,000 pass gates|work=New York Times|date= 1926-06-01|page=1]

The fair drew a much smaller crowd than anticipated (about 10 million people). It ended up unable to cover its debts and was placed into receivership in 1927, at which point its assets were sold at auction. [ [http://www.phila.gov/PHILS/Docs/Inventor/graphics/agencies/A232-5.htm City of Philadelphia Information Locator Service entry] ]

References

External links

* http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/WorldsFair/1926sesqui.htm