“Made in Newark: The Newark Industrial Exhibition of 1872”
The Newark History Society’s next program, “Made in Newark: The Industrial Exhibition of 1872,” will take place on Thursday, September 22 at 6:00pm in Centennial Hall at the Newark Public Library, 5 Washington Street.
Halfway through its rise as one of America’s industrial giants, Newark put together an event America had never seen before — a showcase of locally-made products, including some by Thomas Edison and other leading inventors of the day. Initially feared as a risky undertaking, the Newark Industrial Exhibition of 1872 was so impressive that it brought the president of the United States to Newark to marvel at its display of goods. Praise for the exhibition spread Newark’s reputation as a major manufacturing center far and wide and ushered in an era of similar events. It also helped convince Newark to get serious about modernizing into a city not only worthy of the acclaim but one that could keep pace in an increasingly competitive world market.
Presentations by Guy Sterling and Ezra Shales will help us mark the 150th anniversary of this extraordinary Industrial Exhibition. Guy is a former Star-Ledger journalist and historian of Newark; Ezra is a professor at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Open to the public at no charge. To join us in-person, please RSVP by email (newarkhistorysoc@gmail.com) by September 19. Light refreshments. Free parking available at Bears & Eagles Stadium Parking Garage-Essex County; lot entrance on Bridge Street.
To join us virtually via Zoom webinar, please register at: https://njpac-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gV27ylYGT4ikKq7yLtx4lg
We are delighted that both the Newark Public Library and NJPAC are co-sponsoring this program.
See you then!
