Name On Logo: Concourse Lake

Revive The Park

This is another charitable cause I am focusing on.

Below is a description of the history involved. If it is too much to read, you can skip ahead to the info below.

In 1876, Philadelphia hosted the Centennial Exhibition to celebrate 100 years of American independence, to introduce America as a new industrial world power, and to showcase the City of Philadelphia as a center of American culture and industry.

Back then, the entire population of the United States was just 46 million. This very large fair attracted 10,164,489 visitors. It was immensely popular and featured exhibitions from 37 other nations, approximately 250 pavilions, and numerous states also had their own buildings and exhibitions. People came by railroad and horse-drawn trolley. Entry cost was 50 cents.

The Main Hall featured 13,720 exhibitors in a building that covered 20 acres. It was the largest structure in the world at that time with 11 miles of walkways.

Machinery Hall was another huge building covering 13 acres of floor space. It featured the main attraction, which was the 45 foot tall, 200 ton Corliss Steam engine. President Grant and Brazilian Emperor Don Pedro turned the levers that slowly brought the great machine to life in front of a crowd that watched in awe. The rest of the machines in the 13 acre hall - printing presses, timber cutters, farm equipment, and others - roared to life. To those people back then, this was incredible.

Upon seeing the Corliss steam engine, one poet wrote "Great as it seems today, it is but the acorn from which shall grow the wide-spreading oak of a century's growth."

It wasn't just the power of the Corliss steam engine that amazed people, which was described as a colossal and mighty piece of machinery, and a stunning display of technological advancement. It was also the many other innovations on display, like the first typewriter, the telephone, and others.

The Times Of London reported that "The American invents as the Greek sculpted and the Italian painted."

The Centennial Exhibition was tremendous at that time.

On December 1, 1876 most of the buildings were auctioned off. They were moved or their timber was re-used in other construction projects.

Many statues were moved - some went to Washington DC. Others went to Illinois and Maryland. Fountains were dismantled. The Main Hall was torn down in 1881.

And the Corliss steam engine eventually was sold for scrap at $8 a ton sometime after 1911.

All that remains now of the great Centennial Exhibition is a prairie of grasslands, Memorial Hall, which is now the "Please Touch Museum" (for children), one small state building, a couple restroom buildings, some statues, and a fountain.

If people back then were to get into a time machine and visit the fair grounds today, they would be in shock, because it has been neglected for years. And the neighborhood bordering the park, once a place with mansions, is now a bit of a run-down ghetto.

Where Machinery Hall once stood is now a 7½ acre lake that is in sorry shape: Concourse Lake.

There is a movement to try to create awareness for "The Centennial District" and to revitalize the lake. So this logo contest is part of an effort to raise funds to once again make the area a great attraction.

Industry: Miscellaneous

1. Related to the Victorian era

2. Legitimate

3. Class

I've gone through all the old photos to look for a structure that might best be used in a logo design for Concourse Lake. This is the one that I think fits the best:

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It is the Pennsylvania state building at the exhibition. Here is another shot of it:

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I envision those 3 turrets above the entryway as being somehow in the logo.

Or you can choose another image that recalls the Victorian time period.

I want the logo to appeal to affluent people who can afford to give.

I am running another contest on Logomyway right now: Rittenhouse Square. Try doing a design for that one too. I will be raising money for both causes simultaneously and together. They are both part of a combined fundraising effort.

(Web)  (Print Media)  (Mugs & Tshirts) 

Let's add further words to the logo: Centennial District

So the main heading is: Concourse Lake

The sub-heading is Revive The Park

Additional wording: Centennial District