The Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition (as a talk / virtual tour only)
The Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park displayed the marvels of C19th industrial progress in an epic glass and iron edifice. It was a spectacularly popular London event, and the first truly international exhibition in the world.
Where did the idea come from? How was it organised?: The story behind it is as bizarre as it's brilliant. The items on display ranged from Stephenson's Rocket and the Koh-i-Nor diamond to oddities such as a penknife with 80 blades. Richard Watkins' virtual tour relates the story of how the Exhibition was staged, how it wooed the world and what its legacy is.
As a long-time resident of Crystal Palace and tour guide for the local museum presenting the history of its successor site, Richard has held a long interest in the Great Exhibition.
See five star review of this tour.