The Great Exhibition

What happened

In 1851 Britain staged the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations inside the Crystal Palace, a vast glass-and-iron hall raised in London's Hyde Park in just nine months. Championed by Prince Albert, it displayed the machines and manufactures of the industrial age to around six million visitors — a third of the population of England and Wales.

Why it matters

A confident showcase of industrial progress, the exhibition celebrated the technologies of the Industrial Revolution and raised funds that helped found museums and institutions still thriving today.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Great Exhibition · Reputable source