The first international exposition was held in London in 1851. The industrial, commercial, scientific and cultural exhibitors of each country were distributed among the national sections of the different official thematic pavilions. Many of the participants, such as Campbell's Soup or Michigan Stove Company, added the Paris award to the advertisements and labels of their products. Aerial view of the Exposition Universelle, The Porte Monumentale de Paris, located on the Place de la Concorde, was the main entrance of the Exposition. [37], The Exposition had several large theatres and music halls, the largest of which was the Palais des Ftes, which had fifteen thousand seats, and offered programs of music, ballet, historical recreations and diverse spectacles. [53], The most famous appearance was in the edicules, or entrance coverings, of the stations of the Paris Mtro designed by Hector Guimard. He designed the posters for the official Austrian participation in the Exposition, painting murals depicting scenes from the history of Bosnia as well as the menu for the restaurant at the Bosnian pavilion, and designed the menu for the official opening banquet. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}485122N 21752E / 48.8561N 2.2978E / 48.8561; 2.2978, World's Fair held in Paris, France, from 14 April to 12 November 1900, "Paris Exposition, 1900" redirects here. [22] The exhibit included a statuette of Frederick Douglass, four bound volumes of nearly 400 official patents by African Americans, photographs from several educational institutions (Fisk University, Howard University, Roger Williams University, Tuskegee Institute, Claflin University, Berea College, North Carolina A&T), and, most memorably, some five hundred photographs of African-American men and women, homes, churches, businesses and landscapes including photographs from Thomas E. The film, projected on a circular screen 93 metres (305ft) in circumference by ten synchronized projectors, depicted a landscape passing below. Du Bois. [25], The North African French colonies were especially present; The Tunisian pavilion was a miniature recreation of the Sidi Mahrez Mosque of Tunis. The Russian pavilion, designed by Robert Meltzer, was inspired by the towers of the Kremlin and had exhibits and architecture presenting artistic treasures from Samarkand, Bukhara and other Russian dependencies in Central Asia. Pavilion of Italy by Carlo Ceppi, Costantino Gilodi and Giacomo Salvadori, Pavilion of Turkey by Adrien-Ren Dubuisson, Pavilion of the United States by Coolidge and Morin-Goustiaux, Pavilions of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Karl Panek (left) and Hungary by Zoltn Blint and Lajos Jmbor (right), Pavilion of Belgium by Ernest Acker and Gustave Maukels, Royal Pavilion of Spain by Jos Urioste Velada, Pavilion of Monaco by Jean Marquet and Franois Medecin, Pavilion of Finland by Gesellius, Lindgren, Saarinen, Russia had an imposing presence on the Trocadro hill. The visit continued by showing dioramas of Rome, Moscow, New York and Amsterdam and ended with a mobile panorama of a boat trip along the coast of Provence, from Marseille to La Ciotat. Rue des Nations. Its purpose was to promote French commerce, technology and culture. A separate thoroughfare of the Exposition, the Rue de Paris, was lined with amusements, including music venues, a comedy theater, marionettes, American jazz, a Grand Guignol theater, and the celebrated "Backwards House", which had its furniture on the ceiling, its chandeliers on the floor, and windows which gave reverse images. One was described as both a personification of electricity and as Salammb, Gustave Flaubert's infamous Carthaginian femme fatale, who was a symbol of light. The widest and longest of the Paris bridges at the time, it was constructed on a single arch of steel 108 metres (354ft) long. [48], The cost of an admission ticket was one Franc. [9][2], The Water castle, facing the Palace of Electricity, had an equally imposing appearance. [37] There were also several recreations depicting picturesque or touristic regions of France, including exhibitions from Provence, Bretagne, Poitou, Berry and Auvergne, using their pre-revolutionary provincial names rather than their departments. The total area of the Exposition, 216 hectares (530 acres), was ten times larger than the 1855 Exposition.[4]. The awards ceremony was held on 18 August 1900, and was attended by 11,500 persons. Art Nouveau decoration appeared in the interiors and decoration of many of the buildings, notably the interior ironwork and decoration of the Monumental gateway of the Exposition, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, and in the portal of the Palace of National Industries. Spectators seated in armchairs inside watched a presentation on the stars and planets projected overhead. Response to the monumental gateway was mixed, with some critics comparing it to a pot-bellied stove. [9] The interior offers examples of Art Nouveau, particularly in the railings of the curving stairways, the tiles of the floors, the stained glass, and the murals on the ceiling of the arcade around the garden. [40], The most celebrated actress during the Exposition was Sarah Bernhardt, who had her own theater, The Thtre Sarah Bernhardt (now the Thtre de la Ville), and premiered one of her most famous roles during the Exposition. It was named after Czar Alexander III of Russia, who had died in 1894, and celebrated the recent alliance between France and Russia. Fahr-Becker, Gabriele (2015). Diagram of the Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900. The Netherlands displayed the exotic culture of its crown colony, the Dutch East Indies. [47] The dinner was prepared in eleven kitchens and served to 606 tables, with the orders and needs of each table supervised by telephone and vehicle. Marcel rebuilt there the Japanese red pagoda of the Tour du Monde (now known as the Japanese Tower) and moved the original entry pavilion to the tower from Paris. Of the fifty-six countries invited to participate with official representation, forty accepted, plus an additional number of colonies and protectorates of France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Portugal. The illusion was aided by machinery that rocked the ship, and fans which blew gusts of wind.[35]. [12], The 83,047 French and foreign exhibitors at the Fair were divided into 18 groups based on their subject matter, which in turn were divided into 121 classes, and based on the class to which they belonged, they were alocated in the corresponding official thematic pavilion. It also appeared in the interior decoration of many popular restaurants, notably the Pavillon Bleu at the Exposition, Maxim's, and the Le Train Bleu restaurant of the Gare de Lyon,[54] and in the portal of the Palace of National Manufacturers made by the Svres Porcelain Manufactory. Other diversions elsewhere in and around the Exposition included an orchestra from Madagascar, a Comedy Theater, and the Columbia Theater at Port Maillot, with acts ranging from panoramas of life in the Orient to a water ballet. [3][2], Countries from around the world were invited by France to showcase their achievements and cultures. Porte Monumentale on the Place de la Concorde. The sidewalks had posts with handles which passengers could hold onto, or they could walk. It also brought international attention to the Art Nouveau style. 3,156 grand prizes were handed out, 8,889 gold medals, 13,300 silver medals, 12,108 bronze medals, and 8,422 honorable mentions. With a much larger than expected turnout the exhibit sites had gone up in value. [1][2], Planning for the 1900 Exposition began in 1892, under President Carnot, with Alfred Picard as Commissioner-General. [46] The pigeon race was won by a bird which flew from Paris to its home in Lyon in four and a half hours. Their display at the Exposition brought the new style international attention. Each thematic pavilion was divided into national sections, which were the responsibility of the corresponding country and where its exhibitors were located. The jewelry firm of Fouquet and the glass and crystal manufactory of Lalique all presented collections of Art Nouveau objects. [37], The Panorama du Tour du Monde was an animated panorama journey from Europe to Japan in a building by Alexandre Marcel in the architectural styles of India, China, Cambodia, Japan and Renaissance Europe. An additional section of 104 hectares (260 acres) for agricultural exhibits and other structures was built in the Bois de Vincennes. Its cupola displayed agricultural produce and hunting equipment. [27] One object of note on display was the Jikji, the oldest extant book printed with movable metal type. [34], An even more ambitious experiment in motion pictures was the Cinorama of Raoul Grimoin Sanson, which simulated a voyage in a balloon. His more serious art works, including his drawings for Le Pater, were shown in the Austrian pavilion and in the Austrian section of the Grand Palais. At the same time that the Pont Alexander III was built, a similar bridge, the Trinity Bridge was built in Saint-Petersburg, and was dedicated to French-Russian friendship by French President Flix Faure. View of the Champ de Mars under the Eiffel Tower, The Grande Roue de Paris was a very popular attraction. It also included the Grand Palais and Petit Palais on the right bank. It had two large domes, between which was a gigantic fountain, circulating 100,000 litres (22,000impgal; 26,000USgal) of water a minute. The workers were situated above a frieze of animals designed by sculptor Paul Jouve and executed by ceramicist Alexandre Bigot. Andalusia In The Time Of The Moors) was a 5,000m2 (54,000sqft) Spanish-themed open air attraction with folkloric live performances at Quai Debilly, at the western end of Trocadro, on the right bank of the Seine, featuring full-scale moorish architecture reproductions from the Alhambra, Crdoba, Toledo, the Alczar of Seville and a 80m (260ft) tall reproduction of the Giralda. Another innovation in motion pictures was presented at the Exposition at the Phono-Cinema Theater; a primitive talking motion picture, where the image on the screen was synchronized to the sound from phonographs. [5], The site of the Exposition covered 112 hectares (280 acres) along the left and right banks of the Seine from the esplanade of Les Invalides to the Eiffel Tower (built for the 1889 Exposition) at the Champ de Mars. [2], The organizers of the Exposition were not miserly in recognizing the 83,047 exhibitors of products, about half of whom came from France, and 7,161 from the United States. The iron frame of the Grand Palais was quite modern for its time; it appeared light, but in fact, it used 9,000 tonnes (8,900 long tons; 9,900 short tons) of metal, compared with seven thousand for the construction of the Eiffel Tower. The foundation stone was laid by his son, Czar Nicholas II in 1896, and the bridge was finished in 1900. [18], The Petit Palais, that is facing the Grand Palais, was designed by Charles Girault. "International physical exercises and sports competition") in the official report of the Exposition. Lahor, Jean (2007) [1901]. [34], Another popular attraction was the Mareorama, which simulated a voyage by ship from Villefranche to Constantinople. Some of his murals can be seen now in the Petit Palais. [2], In addition to their own national pavilion, the countries managed other spaces at the Fair. The Palais des Illusions (Palace of Illusions), adjoining the Palace of Optics, was an extremely popular exhibition. Though many of the buildings were not finished, the Exposition was opened on 14 April 1900 by President mile Loubet. The sphere was the scene of a fatal accident on 29 April 1900 when one of access ramps, hastily made of a newly introduced material, reinforced concrete, collapsed onto the street below, killing nine persons. [33], Quai d'Orsay-Pont des Invalides station of the moving sidewalk near the Pavilion of Italy, Viaducts of the electric train (left) and the moving sidewalk (right), The first ever trolleybuses in regular passenger service (Bois de Vincennes). For this Exposition, it was repainted in shaded tones from yellow-orange at the base to light yellow at the top, and was fitted with 7,000 electric lamps. Thanks to the power from Palace of Electricity, the fountain was illuminated at night by continually changing colored lights. Electrical lighting was used extensively to keep the Fair open well into the night. It was the work of two architects, Henri Deglane for the main body of the building, and Albert Thomas for the west wing, or Palais d'Antin. It was composed of towering polychrome ceramic decoration in Byzantine motifs, crowned by a statue 6.5 metres (21ft) high called La Parisienne. The concessionaires then went on strike, which ultimately resulted in the closure of a large part of the exposition. Its most popular feature was the Champagne Palace, offering displays and samples of French Champagne. Askew.[23]. 2, 1-14. The cost of a ride was one franc for a second class car, and two francs for a more spacious first-class car. Many technological innovations were displayed at the Fair, including the Grande Roue de Paris ferris wheel, the Rue de l'Avenir moving sidewalk, the first ever regular passenger trolleybus line, escalators, diesel engines, electric cars, dry cell batteries, electric fire engines, talking films, the telegraphone (the first magnetic audio recorder), the galalith and the matryoshka dolls. [2], At the Rue des Nations, on the left bank of the Seine, on the Quai d'Orsay, overlooking the river, from the Pont des Invalides towards the Pont de l'Alma, were located the national pavilions of Italy, Turkey, the United States, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Great Britain, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Spain, Monaco, Sweden, Greece, Serbia and Mexico. [21], The United States pavilion was modest, a variation on the United States Capitol Building designed by Charles Allerton Coolidge and Georges Morin-Goustiaux. [42], Another popular diversion during the Exposition was the theater of the American dancer, Loie Fuller, who performed a famous Serpentine dance in which she waved large silk scarves which seemed to envelop her into a cloud. [5], Among the colonies and protectorates present in the Fair were French Algeria, Cambodia, Congo, Dahomey, Guadeloupe, Guiana, Guinea, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Laos, Madagascar, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Oceania, Runion, Senegal, Somaliland, Sudan, Tonkin, Tunisia, West Africa, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the Dutch East Indies, British Canada, Ceylon, India and Western Australia and the Portuguese colonies. In addition, most popular attractions charged an admission fee, usually between fifty centimes and Franc. The Eiffel Tower, that was built as the main entrance of the 1889 Exposition, was the main and central attraction of the 1900 Exposition. A few of the major structures built for the Exposition were preserved, including the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, and the two major bridges, the Pont Alexandre III and the Passerelle Debilly, though the latter was later dismantled and moved a few dozen meters from its original placement.[55]. The architecture of the Exposition was largely of the Belle Epoque style and Beaux-Arts style, or of eclectic national styles. [14] The facade of the Palace and the Water Castle, across from it, were lit by an additional 7,200 incandescent lamps and seventeen arc lamps. The pavilions of the Austro-Hungarian domains in the Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina, offered displays on their lifestyles, consisting of folklore traditions, highlighting peasanthood and the embroidery goods produced in the country. This telescope was the largest refracting telescope at that time. It was designed by a French architect, Adrien-Ren Dubuisson, and was a mixture of copies of Islamic architecture from mosques in Istanbul and elsewhere in the Ottoman Empire. After the Exposition it was moved to the wall of Square Felix-Dsroulles, next to the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prs, where it can be seen today.[20]. The average cost of a simple meal at the Exposition was 2.50 Francs, the half-day wages of a worker. [57], Japanese Tower of the Museums of the Far East in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium, Ceramic gateway of Svres Porcelain from the Palace of National Manufacturers, now on Square Flx-Desruelles, Hector Guimard's original Art Nouveau entrance of the Paris Mtro at Porte Dauphine Mtro Station, A 2.87 metres (9ft 5in) copy of the Statue of Liberty by Bartholdi, exhibited in 1900, placed in the Luxembourg Gardens in 1905, La Ruche, an artist's colony composed of pieces of different Exposition buildings. The Exposition had numerous critics from different points of view. The Palace of Furniture and Decoration was particularly lavish and presented many displays of the new Art Nouveau style. [9] The entrance murals were painted by Paul-Albert Besnard and Paul Albert Laurens. The Exposition Universelle of 1900, better known in English as the 1900 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 14 April to 12 November 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next. Among the most popular was the Palace of Optics, whose main attractions included the Great Paris Exposition Telescope, which enlarged the image of the moon ten thousand times. The goal of the exhibition was to demonstrate progress and commemorate the lives of African Americans at the turn of the century. It could carry 1,600 passengers in its forty cars in a single voyage. [38], The Swiss Village, at the edge of the Exposition near Avenue de Sufren and Motte-Piquet, was a recreation of a Swiss mountainside village, complete with a 35 metres (115ft) cascade, a lake and collection of thirty-five chalets. [54], Paris metro station entrance at Abbesses designed by Hector Guimard for the Exposition, Art Nouveau swan vase by the Svres Manufactory made for the Exposition, Nymph lamp by Egide Rombaux & Franois Hoosemans made for the Exposition, Menu by Alfons Mucha for the restaurant of the Bosnia and Herzegovina pavilion, Bosnia and Herzegovina pavilion murals by Alfons Mucha (1900), now in Petit Palais, The Bigot pavilion, showcasing the work of Art Nouveau ceramics manufacturer Alexandre Bigot, Jugendstil hallway from the German pavilion, by Bruno Mhring, now in Mainz, The 1900 interior of the Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon, Most of the palaces and buildings constructed for the Exposition Universelle were demolished after the conclusion of the Exposition and all items and materials that could be salvaged were sold or recycled. The Cinorama, a simulated voyage in a balloon with motion pictures projected on a circular screen. The gateway was brightly illuminated at night by 3,200 light bulbs and an additional forty arc lamps. It was the first trolleybus in regular passenger service in History. [9], The controversial gateway became known as La Salamanda among the public because it resembled the stocky and intricately designed salamander-stoves of the time, only adding to its ridicule.[2]. [2], The interior of the central dome had niches holding large sculptures. Old Paris) was a recreation of the streets of old Paris, from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, with recreations of historic buildings and streets filled with performers and musicians in costumes. Aerial view of the Exposition including the Eiffel Tower. At the same time, the lifts in the east and west legs were replaced by lifts running as far as the second level and the lift in the north pillar was removed and replaced by a staircase to the first level. [14], The Palace of Electricity (behind) and the Water Castle (in front), The Grand Palais, officially the Grand Palais des beaux-arts et des arts decoratifs, was built on the right bank upon the site of the Palace of Industry of the 1855 Exposition. Baseline Co. Ltd. Though it was named after the Russian Czar, the themes of the decoration were almost entirely French. They were built largely of wood and covered with staff, which was formed into columns, statuary, walls, stairs. [43], 997 competitors took part in nineteen different sports, including women competing for the first time. The Palace was enormous, 420 metres (1,380ft) long and 60 metres (200ft) wide, and its form suggested a giant peacock spreading its tail. It was designed by Ferdinand Boberg. [31], A Decauville electric train followed the same route, running at an average speed of 17 kilometres per hour (11mph) in the opposite direction of the moving sidewalk. The Palais des Illusions created a show of optical illusions with mirrors and lighting effects. [39], Other recreations with costumed vendors and musicians elsewhere the Exposition included recreations of the bazaars, souks and street markets of Algiers, Tunis and Laos, a Venetian canal with gondolas, a Russian village and a Japanese tea house. The Exposition buildings were meant to be temporary; they were built on iron frames covered with plaster and staff, a kind of inexpensive artificial stone. The Art Nouveau style was very popular in the pavilions of decorative arts. L'Art Nouveau (in French). Many international congresses and other events were held within the framework of the Exposition, including the 1900 Summer Olympics.