Crystal Palace for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, New York

The New York Crystal Palace was specially constructed for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 1853 / 1854. Hand-colored lithograph by French artist François Courtin (1820-1871). Original title: Palais de Cristal de New-York pour l'Exposition de de l'industrie de toutes les Nations / New-York Crystal Palace for the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations. Editor V^e. Turgis Paris & New York. Source: New-York Historical Society Library.

The Crystal Palace was located in what is known today as Bryant Park. This view was taken from Sixth Avenue and the 42nd Street is on the left. The old Croton Reservoir is on the right, on Fifth Avenue.

The Exhibition opened on July 14, 1853 and closed on November 14, 1854. The New York Crystal Palace was designed by Georg Carstensen and German architect Charles Gildemeister, and was inspired by the Crystal Palace built in London's Hyde Park to house The Great Exhibition of 1851. It was constructed from iron and glass and had the shape of a Greek cross, crowned by a dome 100 ft (30 m) in diameter. It was constructed by engineer Christian Edward Detmold. Horatio Allen was the consulting engineer, and Edmund Hurry the consulting architect. The Crystal Palace burned to the ground in 1858.

Lower Manhattan, looking south from 42nd Street, showing the Croton Reservoir and the Crystal Palace.