Louisville, Ky., – From operas to orchestras, livestock to light bulbs, Louisville’s Southern exposition was spectacular in every way. Starting this week at Metro Hall, the Frazier History Museum will showcase a time when the world traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to discover innovation through a world’s fair. The Southern exposition featured cutting edge technology illuminated by the magic of the incandescent light bulb, which allowed activities to go on well after sundown.
As part of the Frazier History Museum’s partnership with Louisville Metro Government that began last year, visitors will see the Southern Exhibition at Louisville Kentucky. The exhibit will be installed on Thursday, August 20th at Metro Hall, the seat of Louisville metro government, at Sixth and Jefferson streets. The exhibit is free and open to the public during normal weekday business hours.
The 1883 Southern Exhibition was high-LIGHTED BY former Louisville resident Thomas Edison, who personally managed the installation of the recently invented incandescent light bulbs. The 4,600 bulbs used at the fair outnumbered the total number of bulbs in all of New York City at the time.
Featuring much more than electrically lit nighttime entertainment, the exhibit attracted people from all over the world to learn about agricultural machinery and technical innovation in the United States. U.S. President Chester Arthur ceremoniously started the festivities with the yank of a silken cord setting much of the modern machinery in motion.
A second exhibit curated by the Frazier features an early facsimile of the Declaration of Independence and will remain on display indefinitely at Metro Hall.
Both exhibits are displayed in alcoves that are situated on either side of the Grand Staircase inside the Jefferson Street entrance of Metro Hall, 527 W. Jefferson St.
As part of its continuing 10th Anniversary Exhibition schedule, the Frazier is currently hosting The Lewis and Clark experience through May 15, 2016. This exhibition takes visitors of all ages on an immersive and educational adventure that asks people to face some of the many challenges encountered by the famed Corps of Discovery.
The Frazier History Museum just recently kicked off its new Hometown History Series with a retrospective on the unprecedented 100-year span of one of Louisville’s most prestigious companies, Doe-Anderson. The Power of Persuasion: 100 Years of Doe-Anderson traces the creative company’s history of serving as successful strategists and communicators for a long list of who’s who in local, regional and national advertising clients. The exhibit runs through February 14, 2016.
For more information, go to www.fraziermuseum.org.
