Crystal Palace, giant glass-and-iron exhibition hall in Hyde Park, London, that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held in London inside an enormous structure of iron and glass known as the Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace, an exhibition hall in Hyde Park, London, was the site of the first international exposition in 1851. In five months, from May to October 1851, six million visitors thronged the gigantic trade show, marveling over the latest technology as well as displays of artifacts from around the world. Prince Albert, head of the Society of Arts, had the idea of an exhibition to impress the world with Britain's industrial achievements. The exposition was a great success, attracting more than six million visitors during the five months that it was open to the public. The Crystal Palace was a huge glass and iron structure originally built in 1851 for the Great Exhibition held in London's Hyde Park. The structure was taken down and rebuilt (1852–54) at Sydenham Hill (now in the borough of Bromley), at which site it survived until 1936. For books on this subject please go to the Great Exhibition 1851 section of our shop. Engineer Joseph Paxton was inspired by the underlying structure of the giant … The Crystal Palace at Sydenham Hill, London. A Crystal Palace in Hyde Park housed the 100,000 exhibits that made up the fair. The acreage has not changed to this day. The Crystal Palace was originally built to house the Great London Exhibition of 1851, a World’s Fair-type expo highlighting the wonders of technology and arts of England’s far-flung empire. The delination of the park was (and still is) Crystal Palace Parade - Anerley Hill - Thicket Road (from the railway bridge) - Crystal Palace Park Road / Westwood Hill. The impressive …