A free, immersive exhibit explores the 1867 Universal Exhibition and the evolution of photography in Paris

The 1867 Universal Exhibition, which brought together over 52,000 exhibitors from around the world, was the first to be documented extensively through photographic records. It is this rich collection that the National Archives are eager to showcase from November 25, 2026, to February 22, 2027. Visitors will experience a free and immersive exhibition, designed to make you feel as if you are there, through a combination of installations and archival documents.

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In 1867, France hosts its fourth Universal Exposition, and Napoleon III has grand plans, deciding to construct an expansive palace on the Champ-de-Mars alongside hundreds of temporary pavilions. The event showcases a diverse range of participating countries and spans various fields—from fine arts to industry—each highlighting their technological advances and modern innovations. A groundbreaking development also shakes up the 19th century: photography.

This Universal Exhibition is captured from every possible angle, resulting in thousands of images! Photography here serves multiple roles: as an art form, a means of communication, a tool for scientific documentation, and a commercial commodity. Reflecting the event itself, photographs allow individuals to showcase themselves and be seen—portraits are readily available, stereoscopic views are sold to visitors, and popular photographers are often on-site. Visitors can browse through albums featuring scenes from around the world...

The organizers themselves are contributing to this surge, creating the equivalent of the first photo ID to streamline access. This societal shift is vividly illustrated by the National Archives exhibition through original documents—archival records, photographs, drawings, artifacts, stereoscopes—and more, displayed in the Prince's chamber at the Hôtel de Soubise.

Throughout four different sections, visitors are introduced to a personality, real or fictional, each with a unique connection to the Universal Exhibition: Pierre Petit, who held a monopoly on photography; Stéphanie Breton, a participant in the French photography section; Tokugawa Akitake, a Japanese envoy and an exceptional visitor photographed for the first time in Paris; and finally, one of the many stuffed animals lining the exhibition hall.

To make the exhibition more immersive, visitors will also be provided with 3D glasses and can virtually wander through the 1867 Universal Exposition. This includes a virtual stroll through the exhibition grounds, accompanied by an archival photographic collection and immersive soundscape, bringing visitors closer to understanding the significance of this event in the history of photography. A journey through time, celebrating the bicentennial of photography.