George Washington and The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Celebration

Since his involvement in the gaining of American independence in 1776, George Washington has been celebrated as a symbol of the American people and the values they wish to represent. Very little research has been done on how... [ view full abstract ]

Since his involvement in the gaining of American independence in 1776, George Washington has been celebrated as a symbol of the American people and the values they wish to represent. Very little research has been done on how Washington’s perception among the American people has transformed over time, as with every passing decade Washington has come to represent a different set of ideals and meanings. The aim of this study was to examine how Washington’s memory was perceived at the Philadelphia Centennial celebration in 1876. This world fair highlighted the first one hundred years of the American experience yet in many ways represented the juxtaposition between a growing industrial society and the nostalgia of the colonial past. In an abundance of artwork, merchandise, exhibits, and relics, Washington’s memory was effectively crafted by the organizers of the Centennial exhibition. This study strives to interpret how the individuals in attendance at the celebration viewed these images of Washington and how these perceptions have aided in the forging of Washington’s legacy as an American hero and mythical figure. Only three years following the Centennial celebration, Washington’s Birthday was recognized as a federal holiday in 1879. This holiday is now known predominantly as Presidents’ Day but shares a unique history with the commemoration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday . The timing of this recognition illustrates that Washington’s representation at the Centennial celebration resonated with the American people in a distinct way. By analyzing the nationalistic intentions of the fair organizers and the reactions of the individuals and dissenting voices in attendance at the exhibition, this study endeavors to interpret how Washington’s image was interpreted by the American people in 1876, and in what way this memory contributed to the creation of the federal holiday in 1879.