ChronoFive
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Setting the scene
Victorian Britain sought a showcase for industrial supremacy after the repeal of Corn Laws; Prince Albert and Henry Cole organized the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, commissioning Joseph Paxton's prefabricated iron-and-glass hall in Hyde Park.
What happened
The Great Exhibition opened on May 1, 1851, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert processed through the Crystal Palace as six million visitors eventually filed past Koh-i-Noor diamonds, steam engines, and colonial manufactures.
Why it still matters
It showcased industrial Britain to millions and exported the idea of world's fairs; the palace moved to Sydenham until fire destroyed it in 1936, but its template shaped expos from Philadelphia to Paris.
Background
It showcased industrial Britain to millions.