Sixth Grade
Worksheets
The Great Exhibition
In 1851, a huge world's fair known as the Great Exhibition was held in London, England. It was planned by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. The fair was to be a demonstration of British accomplishments.
To house the exhibit, a huge building called the Crystal Palace was designed. It was built of glass with an iron frame and looked like an enormous greenhouse.
Thirteen thousand exhibits were set up in the Crystal Palace. They showcased not only what England had to offer, but also accomplishments from India and recently colonized lands including Australia and New Zealand.
There were exhibits of industrial machinery, farm machinery, art objects, rare jewels, new inventions, and even state fair-type exhibits of dogs, cats, and flowers. There were concerts and circus acts for visitors to enjoy.
One exhibit, a display by American locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs, drew a lot of attention. It stirred up a controversy about who really made the best locks in the world.
