50 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



THE EXHIBIT AT CINCINNATI. 



The Cincinnati Industrial Exposition is an institution of some years 

 standing, and receives the cordial support of the most prominent busi- 

 ness men of the city. Expositions have been held annually since 1873, 

 a suitable and substantial brick building having been erected by the 

 management. It is located in the heart of the city, and has annually a 

 large attendance. For the season of 1884 the exposition opened on 

 September 3, closing on the fourth of the following month. 



As the space was mostly allotted before the bill authorizing Govern- 

 ment participation in the exposition had become a law, a second build- 

 ing to accommodate the Government exhibits was found necessary, and 

 the management erected a temporary structure near the main entrance, 

 having dimensions of 50 by 200 feet. This was divided between the 

 several departments, 3,322 square feet, or nearly one-third of the entire 

 building, being allotted to the Smithsonian Institution. This space 

 was situated at one end of the structure, thus admitting of a satisfactory 

 and very pleasing installation. 



As soon as the Louisville exhibits were in place the work of pre- 

 paring those for Cincinnati was vigorously pushed, and the entire col- 

 lection consisting of 80 cases of exhibits with a weight of 24,321 pounds 

 was shipped on August 26, reaching the exposition at Cincinnati on 

 September 1. A large force of men was at once set to work to unpack 

 and arrange them, and by the opening of the exposition the arrange- 

 ment was practically completed. 



As at Louisville, the exhibits were largely educational, and included 

 such objects as it was thought would be appreciated by those who saw 

 them. One of the striking features of the exhibit was an alcove con- 

 taining a collection illustrative of the social life and industries of the 

 Eskimo and the Indians of the northwest coast; the dwellings, house- 

 hold utensils, and implements of war, hunting and fishing, as well as 

 the art of the two races being shown in such a manner as to afford 

 accurate means of comparison. A life-size bust in plaster of one of 

 the prominent Indian chiefs with- portraits in oil of thirteen others were 

 also exhibited. Another important feature was a large and valuable 

 collection of minerals yielding gems and ornamental stones. The 

 natural history department contained a small but choice collection of 

 taxidermy, including game and water birds, sparrows, and a few mam- 

 mals, while a full series of Audubon colored plates of North American 

 birds were framed and used for decoration. Two cases were devoted 

 to a large collection of plaster casts of the more common snakes and 

 turtles of the United States. The methods and apparatus employed in 

 the great ocean fisheries and in fish culture were graphically repre- 

 sented by means of two extensive series of photographs, the largest 

 series being solar enlargement having dimensions of 30 by 40 inches. 

 In the fishery section was also shown a large and valuable collection of 



