Elm Ave. Opposite Main Building Centennial Exhibition 1876 Philadelphia Scrapbook CEDC No.c180320 Image courtesy of the Free Library of Philadelphia

This vivid description of the lively scene in the streets surrounding the Exhibition comes from 'The illustrated history of the Centennial exhibition by James Dabney McCabe"...

'On the left, stretching away up Elm avenue for nearly a mile, is a line of restaurants, small hotels, beer-gardens, ice-cream saloons, and small shows that have sprung up as if by magic. Each is gayly decorated with flags and streamers, and at night glitters with scores of gas-lamps of all possible hues. Almost every one of these buildings has a flat roof, which is either left open and sheltered by a canvas awning, or the second story is built open in order that the guests of the house may enjoy the air while eating and drinking. These upper stories form capital points of observation, and from any of them a brilliant and interesting picture of the street and the Exhibition buildings and grounds may be obtained. Many of the "beer-gardens" are provided with bands of music, which add to the gayety of the scene, and attract customers.'

..And a similar scene was to be found..

'looking down Girard avenue toward the Schuylkill, one beholds a long line of restaurants, beer-gardens, bar-rooms, and cheap hotels similar to those on Elm Avenue, all gaudily decorated and gay with flags.'

McCabe, with foresight, did mention the considerable risks afforded by such establishments where fire safety was all but ignored. A row of wooden buildings like those in the sketch above burned to a cinder during the summer. In September a number of wooden buildings in "Shantytown" were torn down by the police under the order of Mayor Stokley.

The Colosseum, Broadway, 35th and 36th Streets, New York by New York State Pamphlets Image courtesy of Cornell New York Historical Literature

An evening out after a day inside the Exhibition grounds must have been an exciting and atmospheric contrast. Many hotels, ranging from plush large establishments to small guesthouses, were purpose built and opened in the environs to accommodate the huge numbers of visitors, enabling crowds to enjoy the Exhibition as well as all of the adjacent entertainments. Although there must have been a degree of vice on the poor side of town; 'Shantyville', McCabe's account does not show too much disapproval for the peripheral entertainments; he seems to enjoy all of the fair's bustle and lights.

As well as the local beer gardens, restaurants and the like, there were a number of sideshows.

The owners of the Colosseum in New York must have considered it to be a good bet to move their huge tower to Philadelphia where visitors could view a massive panorama of Paris inside, as well as the vista of the town, Exhibition and grounds outside, via a steam elevator from the top of an 141 foot extended central tower:

The Colosseum, Broadway, 35th and 36th Streets, New York by New York State Pamphlets Image courtesy of Cornell New York Historical Literature

'There is no place in the vicinity from which so good a bird's-eye view of Philadelphia can be had, nor under such pleasant circumstances. A few steeples in the city have the requisite elevation, but there are no accommodations in them for visitors, who are forced to climb the whole distance. At the Colosseum tower the visitor is taken up by an elevator, and all the surroundings will be of a nature suited to the class of citizens who will be attracted to the spot. Arrived at the first balcony, the sight-seer may either there satisfy his curiosity, or again entering the elevator, may be carried still higher up the shaft to the second balcony. If he has yet further aspirations, he may take the outside stair way to the extreme top. It is probable ladies will not much affect the last stage of the journey, but it will be perfectly safe for those who choose it. It is evident that visitors may gain a more correct and immediate idea of the topography of Philadelphia through this medium than by any other means at hand in the city.

The building is designed expressly for the exhibition of the magnificent panorama of Paris, which has attracted so much attention in that city and in New York. The picture shows "Paris by Night," and is the work of Messrs. Danson & Son, artists of eminence. It covers over 40,000 square feet-or more than an acre-of canvas, and represents a territory of about seven square miles.'

Here was an embryo Midway just outside the Exhibition proper, knocking on its doors and waiting to get in. It may well have been apparent to the Victorian entrepreneurs of the day that there was plenty of money to be made by incorporating and controlling such entertainments inside the fair, a situation that became an issue for future exposition planning committees.

The Exposition closing ceremony was on 10 November 1876. The Centennial Commission had ordered that the site be cleared by the end of the year. Any remaining non permanent buildings and contents were to be auctioned off. Visiting Wall Street tycoons, railway magnates, syndicates and businessmen of the time saw an opportunity for profit using ready made structures at a knock-down price.

The Manufacturer and Builder of December 1876 mentions that:

'The dismantling of the Exhibition is being pushed forward with great rapidity and the scenes on the grounds now remind one of the the busy haste incident to the week prior to the opening. Freight-cars, wagons, and trucks loaded with filled boxes are everywhere; the machinery is motionless and much of it has been taken apart; most of the State buildings have been sold at auction and barriers on every side prevent the accustomed free rambling about the grounds and buildings. All goods are obliged to be removed by the 31st of the present month.'

Many of the dismantled parts of the remaining buildings were allowed to be stored in the Machinery Hall up to 1879. The following structures were to be transported to Coney Island: