World's Fairs and the Face of Philadelphia
An Illustrated Lecture by Thomas H. Keels
September 17, 2026
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Laurel Hill West
Free To Members
$25.00 Non-Members
$20.00 Book Pre-sale Order Sinners and Scandals - Book Signing
What if Philadelphia looked completely different today?
From the triumphant 1876 Centennial to the troubled 1926 Sesquicentennial and the unrealized dreams of the 1976 Bicentennial, Philadelphia's world's fairs reshaped the city's parks, neighborhoods, museums, architecture, and identity.
Join historian Thomas H. Keels for a fascinating illustrated journey through the triumphs, politics, and unexpected legacies of these landmark events. Discover how the fairs helped create iconic institutions, transformed the city's landscape, and influenced the Philadelphia we know today.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we'll also explore one intriguing question: What legacy will the 2026 Semiquincentennial leave for future generations?
This experience will include a book signing for those that have purchased a book from the event.
THOMAS H. KEELS is a Philadelphia-based writer, historian, and lecturer whose seven books include Sesqui! Greed, Graft, and the Forgotten World’s Fair of 1926, and Forgotten Philadelphia: Lost Architecture of the Quaker City, both published by Temple University Press. His eighth book, Sinners and Scandals of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will be published by The History Press in Fall 2026. Visit his website at
www.thomaskeels.com.