첫 수도의 정체성 세우기 : 1876년 필라델피아 박람회

Abstract

The international exposition has two main functions. The first is to show the progress of industries and new technologies, and the second is to reveal the power and pride of the hosting nation. Evaluating the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, one may add one more purpose of the event: to create or to prove certain aspects of the city the event is held. This paper argues that Philadelphia tried to redetermine its identity as the first capital city of the republic by holding this internationally acclaimed event. <BR> First, the city tried to reestablish the history of American Revolution and Philadelphia’s role in it. For exhibition at the cite of the Centennial Exposition, historical artifacts of the revolution were rediscovered and the heroic stories were retold. Second, the Philadelphians reclaimed its status as the first capital and a booming industrial town by showing the representative manufacturers of the region. Its renown had already faded away as the new metropolis like Chicago took over the position of the leading industrial city. Therefore, Philadelphia used the occasion of the centennial as a chance to recover her losing fame. <BR> Though the city argued that Philadelphia was the center of the revolution and the Exposition proved its historical importance, the event also revealed the ironies and conflicts embedded in the city. Contrary to the revolutionary spirit of liberty and democracy, certain groups of people were under-represented at the centennial. Blacks and women asked the true meaning of the constitution and wanted more participation in preparation and execution of the exposition, but their demands were easily dismissed. <BR> Philadelphia’s effort to reinforce its historical importance continued through the city planning of the early 20th century and the construction of the National Constitution Center in 2003. These self-presentation schemes yielded some fruits, but also expressed clashes of various interests and contradictions residing in the city.