What was the Great Exhibition?

When was the Great Exhibition?

The Great Exhibition took place in 1851.
It was a big show where people could see art, inventions and much more.
Prince Albert (Queen Victoria's husband) thought of the idea.
He wanted to show off the work of the best inventors and scientists.
Lots of countries had displays. France and the United States had the most displays after Britain.

The Great Exhibition was in Hyde Park in London.
A huge glass and iron building called the Crystal Palace was built especially for the Exhibition. It took nine months to build.
Crystal Palace was enormous. The main part of the building was 563 metres long and 124 metres wide!
It was also very tall at 33 metres.
There were lots of trees, statues and a big fountain inside.
In 1854, the Crystal Palace was moved and rebuilt in a part of London called Sydenham.
Unfortunately it burnt down in 1936.

Queen Victoria opened the Great Exhibition on 1st May 1851.
People could see art, musical instruments, precious jewels, and inventions from over 25 different countries.
The world's largest diamond called the Kohinoor was on show.
There were over 8 miles of displays.
Six million people visited the Great Exhibition in six months.
People from all over Britain came to visit on the new railway lines which ran across the country.
Many famous people attended, including the writers Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte and scientist Charles Darwin.

The money made from the Exhibition was used to set up the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum.
You can visit these museums in London today.