ABSTRACT
In June 1853, George Wallis and several colleagues arrived in New York City, to conduct research on the state of American manufactures for the British government.1 Their plan was to visit the New York Crystal Palace Exhibition, a vast display of American national industry. Intended to rival the great exhibition that had taken place in London only two years earlier, the New York Crystal Palace trumpeted America’s industrial skill and proclaimed their free trade commitments to a watching world.2 Unfortunately, this ambitious exhibition did not get off to a good start. Arriving in Gotham in good time for the grand opening, Wallis and his fellow travelers discovered the exhibition had been delayed by a month.3 Undaunted, they chose to embark on a tour of the United States, hoping to see rst hand the state of American manufacturing.4
