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Remembering the Past:
The Fair presented an opportunity for nations to share with the world stories of their past. Material artifacts served as expressions of national memory, and visitors imagined themselves traveling not only to faraway places, but also to moments in time.
Whether transported to an Irish cottage from 1798 or to a recreation of Louis XVI's French palace, fairgoers saw both humble and luxurious artifacts. While the Fair itself commemorated the Louisiana Purchase for the United States, artifacts from Ireland, France, and a host of other nations identified important moments worthy of remembrance in their countries' history. |