A Taste of 1876: Food and Drink at the Centennial Exposition

The Centennial Exposition-An Exhibitor Manufacturing Pop-Corn Balls in Machinery Hall. Courtesy of Free Library of Philadelphia.

Come find out which foods were hot … and which were not … at America’s first official World’s Fair held right here in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park in 1876.

Join us as author, lecturer and History-Making Productions’ popular guest Stephen Nepa, Ph.D., dishes on foods introduced at the fair.

He’ll begin 7 p.m., Thursday, January 12 at Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church, Columbus Blvd. and Christian St., in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia.

Admission is $10, which includes a drink ticket for a beverage of your choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Advance registration is required.

This program will take place inside the church sanctuary, followed by a reception in Riverside Hall. For a modest donation, you can taste delicious gourmet desserts paired with wine, coffee or tea. 

You’ll discover what new products were introduced at this extraordinary fair held in Philadelphia, what people liked and what they didn’t, and which of those foods are still favorites today.

If you like food, you’ll love this very special program.

This program is hosted by the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation. 100% of the funds that we raise from this event will go toward the preservation of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church and its graveyard.