Paris, 1867.

Large panoramic birds-eye view of Paris in 1867 featuring the Exposition Universelle in the foreground.

In 1864, Napoleon III issued a decree stating that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. The International Exposition of 1867 was the second world’s fair and held from 1 April to 3 November 1867. It was built on the Champ de Mars, the great military parade ground of Paris, which covered an area of 119 acres. The main building was rectangular in shape with rounded ends, having a length of 490 m and a width of  380 m, and in the center was a pavilion surmounted by a dome and surrounded by a garden, 166 m long and 56 m wide, with a gallery built completely around it. In addition to the main building, there were nearly 100 smaller buildings on the grounds.

From The Illustrated London News