Centennial

In "America's Centennial Celebration," Fergus Bordewich recounts the Great Centennial Exhibition of 1876, held in Philadelphia, which captivated 10 million visitors, including notable figures like P. T. Barnum and Mark Twain. This landmark event showcased groundbreaking inventions amid a backdrop of social upheaval, including labor strikes, women's rights movements, and the struggles of Black Americans and Native tribes. Through the lives of key figures such as Rutherford B. Hayes and Alexander Graham Bell, Bordewich illustrates a nation at a pivotal moment, grappling with its identity while looking toward an uncertain future.