Windmills at the US Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876

Item: #955, Posted: 3/11/26

I've long been aware of the (mock) mill that was shown in the Agricultural Hall at the US Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, principally via the widely reproduce stereo photo of the exhibit.

Stereo view of the Old Wind Mill in the Agricultural Hall at the Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876
Published by James Esson, Preston

However with further research, I've realized that this was part of a large exhibit by the Hecker flour mill firm, who were a well established New York milling company.

Trade card for the Croton Flour Mills, contrasting a 1776 windmill, with the modern 1876 flour mill. 1876
George V. Hecker & Co.

Trade card for the Croton Flour Mills, rear side, listing the various products and their uses, 1876
George V. Hecker & Co.

I also discovered that the Agricultural Hall also showed a (model) of a wind engine driving a flour mill amongst its other exhibits.

The old mill was one of the exhibits that was kept on for a "permanent" exhibition that opened the next year, 1877, in the Main Hall.

Mills: [usmock212] [usmock213]

Windmills at the US Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876 🌍

Windmills at the US Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876