Great expectations

The 1851 Great Exhibition was held in a purpose built pre-fabricated glass and steel building called the Crystal Palace. It was designed by Joseph Paxton and located in Hyde Park, London, England. After the exhibition had ended the Crystal Palace was moved to Sydenham, London, but it was devastated by fire in 1936. The exhibition had over 6 million visitors. The organisers made a profit of 186,000 pounds sterling. There were some 100,000 exhibits in the exhibition from worldwide contributors. The exhibition was highly criticised at the time despite its success.