Editing Centennial Exposition (section)

=== Horticultural Hall ===
[[File:Horticultural Hall, from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views 3.jpg|thumb|A stereoscopic view of Horticultural Hall (1875–76, demolished 1954) in [[Philadelphia]], now part of the Robert N. Dennis Collection at [[New York Public Library]]]]
Situated high atop a hill presiding over Fountain Avenue, Horticultural Hall epitomized floral achievement, which attracted professional and amateur gardeners. Unlike the other main buildings, it was meant to be permanent. Horticultural Hall had an iron and glass frame on a brick and marble foundation and was {{cvt|383|ft|m}} long, {{cvt|193|ft|m}} wide, and {{cvt|68|ft|m}} tall.<ref>''Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exhibition'', p. 95</ref> The building was designed in the [[Moorish architecture|Moorish style]] and intended as a tribute to the [[The Crystal Palace|Crystal Palace]] of [[London]]'s [[The Great Exhibition|Great Exhibition]] of 1851.

Inside, nurserymen, florists, and landscape architects exhibited a variety of tropical plants, garden equipment, and garden plans. In dramatic fashion, the exposition introduced the general public to the notion of landscape design, as exemplified the building itself and the grounds surrounding it. A long, sunken parterre leading to Horticultural Hall became the exposition's iconic floral feature, reproduced on countless postcards and other memorabilia. This sunken garden enabled visitors on the raised walkways to see the patterns and shapes of the flowerbeds. After the Exposition, the building continued to be used for horticultural exhibits until it was severely damaged by [[Hurricane Hazel]] in 1954 and was subsequently demolished.{{sfnp|Beers|1982|p=464}} As a replacement, the [[The Horticulture Center (Philadelphia)|Fairmount Park Horticulture Center]] was built on the site in 1976 as part of the [[United States Bicentennial]] exposition.