In 1851 an event was organized in London that changed the world: The Great Exhibition. It was a spectacular showcase of technology, manufacture and design from all over the world. In just a few months over six million people attended the exhibition in Joseph Paxton's famous Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. This was a landmark moment that characterized Victoria's reign, and became the model for the other famous exhibitions in Chicago and Paris. Chronicling the first exciting spectacles, through to the much-maligned Millennium Dome, the details and stories behind the great exhibitions are brought together in this fascinating read.