Perhaps the most extraordinary building of the nineteenth century was the
Crystal Palace, which was built in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The Crystal Palace was different from all other buildings in the world, for it
was made of iron and glass. It was one of the biggest buildings of all time
and a lot of people from many countries came to see it. A great many goods
were sent to the exhibition from various parts of the world. There was also a
great deal of machinery on display. The most wonderful piece of machinery on
show was Nasmyth's steam hammer. Though in those days, travelling was not as
easy as it is today, steam boats carried thousands of visitors across the
Channel from Europe. On arriving in England, they were taken to the Crystal
Palace by train. There were six million visitors in all, and the profits from
the exhibition were used to build museums and colleges. Later, the Crystal
Palace was moved to South London. It remained one of the most famous buildings
in the world until it was burnt down in 1936.&