Nearby, in Philadelphia, the memory of American independent was promoted by the display of such artifacts as the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence, as well as Independence Hall. Through the display of these artifacts Americans linked objects that had once been of vital importance in achieving American Independence and now were portrayed as icons of American civilization as well as means to promote celebration for Americans everywhere. T o other countries, the Centennial Exhibition offered not only an opportunity to celebrate who they have become, but also an opportunity to educate individuals on who they are. This can be seen in the context the Corliss Engine, one of the main exhibits at the Centennial. Many of the participating countries wanted to compete with this image.
T ake the Egyptian exhibit for example.
The people of Egypt wanted to represent the fact that Egypt could compete economically with the rest of the world, so they set up a display representing their advancing cotton industry, portraying the fact that they could be compete with America in price as well as quality. At the same time the Egyptians did not want to turn away from the ancient beliefs and customs that the country was built upon. This was seen through their display of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. This pull between the modern and the ancient world of Egyptian society exemplifies a conflict of desires that was portrayed through the Egyptian exhibit. This conflict of desires was not unique to Egypt.