The Philadelphia Flower Show's history extends back to 1829, when the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) hosted its
first public horticultural exhibition in Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street, called the "Spring Flower Show." Three years later,
in 1832, PHS hosted the first fall "Harvest Show." The Harvest Show (at times called the "Autumnal Exhibit") immediately became
an annual event. In addition, from time to time, PHS hosted or participated in daffodil, rose, peony and other flower shows.
The exhibitions were both large and small, and at times competitive. The Spring Flower Show, which was initially held intermittently,
was an annual event by 1871. In the beginning, amateur gardeners dominated the exhibitions. By the 1870s, however, the show's
participants were almost exclusively commercial growers, and a few years after that, the professional gardeners hired by the
wealthy dominated the show. In 1919, James Boyd, who had recently been made president of PHS, was determined to recapture
the show from the professionals. In order to do so, Boyd forged an alliance with the Flower Show of the Main Line and established
an Activities Committee that developed classes and other programs for members of local area garden clubs.
In 1924, PHS joined with the Florist Club, an association of commercial growers, and in 1925, the two organizations jointly
put on the first official Philadelphia Flower Show. The show was a huge success, attracting 84,000 people. In 1927, Philadelphia
Flower Show, Inc., a professional group of nurserymen and growers, was established, and it managed the Flower Show until the
mid 1960s. Though it remained involved in the production of the Flower Show, PHS benefited little, financially, from this
arrangement.
In 1964, Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc., because of difficulties locating an exhibition space, decided to halt production
of the show for two years. PHS, under the direction of Ernesta D. Ballard, feeling that yearly continuity of the show was
necessary, hosted the show that year in the 23rd Street Armory. In 1966, the show was moved to the Civic Center and in 1968
PHS became the show's official producer. In 1996, the Flower Show moved to its current annual location in the Pennsylvania
Convention Center. The Philadelphia Flower Show has grown to be the world's largest indoor flower exhibition. In 2010, the
exhibition encompassed 33 acres of space and drew over 250,000 visitors.
Bibliography:
Peeples, Edwin A. "Summary for a Sesqui." Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Philadelphia: 1977.
Philadelphia International Flower Show. "Timeline of the Flower Show's International Highlights." Accessed October 13, 2010.
http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html