Wisconsin at the centennial. 
2o7 
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION OF 187G, 
BY nON. DAVID ATWOOD, 
United States Centennial Commissioner, 
. CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSAEY. 
The year 1876 has been a memorable one in the history of the 
United States. It completed the first one hundred years of Amer¬ 
ican independence, and it was fitting that this Centennial Anniver¬ 
sary should be celebrated in a manner that should properly com¬ 
memorate the grand event which proclaimed to the world that the 
“ United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independ¬ 
ent states,” to effect which noble pnrpose our ancestors pledged 
their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors; an avent that 
brought into existence a new nation. 
FIRST MOVEMENT. 
The first formal movement for such a celebration was made in 
Philadelphia in 1869. The subject was not seriously considered by 
Conofress until the session of 1870—71. On the third of March, 
1871, a bill was passed “ to provide for celebrating the one hun¬ 
dredth anniversary of American Independence by holding an inter¬ 
national exhibition of arts, manufactures, and products of the soil 
and mine, in the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1876.” The pre¬ 
amble to this law set forth that, in view of that decisive event, “ it 
is deemed fitting that the completion of th-e first century of our na¬ 
tional existence shall be commemorated by an exhibition of the na¬ 
tional resources of the country and their development, and of its 
progress in those arts which benefit mankind, in comparison with 
those of older nations.” 
CENTENNIAL COMMISSION CREATED. 
* With this object in view, the law enacted, created a commission, 
consisting of one commissioner and one alternate commissioner 
from each state and territory, charged with the duty of mak¬ 
ing preparation for the grand celebration; but it did not pro¬ 
vide any means with which to defray exenses, nor any power 
