Temporary and permanent structures were built, some of which still stand in Paris today commemorating the Exposition and acting as evidence of their impact on the city. (Brown 150) The sheer number of exhibits in the Exposition ensured that in order to fit all of them into the city its physical organization would be extremely complex and would require the construction of new buildings to house them. Outside of the classified groups were historical exhibits showcasing the best works from previous expositions and the official foreign pavilions from nations, which were lined along the Seine.
![the exposition the exposition](https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/features/slideshows/Exposition-Universelle-de-1900/portemon2.jpg)
Picard attempted to organized over 80,000 French and foreign exhibits by placing them into 18 groups by their subject matter. Forty-four of the fifty-three countries invited to the exhibition accepted their invitation, including the German Empire. Planning for the exhibition began in Paris in 1892, and in 1893 an engineer named Alfred Picard was named the head of the Governing Commission, which gave him authority over the majority of the planning. Additionally, the Banquet des Maries, took place in 1900 which was a banquet dinner to which the President invited over 20,000 mayors, further displaying France’s unity despite its past. Paris held the Olympics in 1900, which visitors to the Exposition could be easily transported to by metro. (Brown 150) But the Exposition successfully took place, despite uncertainties, along with events in 1900 exemplary of Parisian unity. (Mattie 102) Paris was weary from the political and social turmoil of the 19th century and leading up to the event planners feared ever-changing circumstances would affect the event.
![the exposition the exposition](https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/paris-exposition-1889-granger.jpg)
![the exposition the exposition](http://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,w_728/v1555926440/shape/mentalfloss/8_33.jpg)
Although Germany originally desired to host this exposition, its government was unable to plan far enough in advance, so Paris seized the opportunity to host the largest Exposition in European history to date. This exhibition significantly marked the turn of the century, showcasing the world’s, and especially France’s, greatest achievements from the century before and foreshadowing the innovation to come. The Universelle Exposition of 1900 was the largest and the last of five Expositions held in Paris in the 19th century.