Maine's Place in History: Joshua Chamberlain's 1876 Address at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition

100 years after the founding of the nation, Joshua Chamberlain delivered a speech at the centennial celebration in Philadelphia. Chamberlain was representing Maine at the Centennial and, at the time he gave the speech, he was a notable Mainer and a recognized patriot. Bowdoin college professor, decorated Brigadier General, and Medal of Honor recipient for his gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg, Chamberlain was a serious historian and researcher, an educator, a military tactician, a statesman, and a visionary.

The speech was a major address by a beloved Maine figure about Maine's history and a vision for how the state should move forward in industry, agriculture, and education. What is remarkable about the speech are the challenges that Chamberlain emphasized-- the state's declining population, youth leaving to find skilled work elsewhere, Maine's overreliance on natural resource industries, the need to attract business and capital to the state, the struggles facing family farms-- the same challenges Mainers face today. Chamberlain was prescient in recognizing the promise of Maine as a tourist destination and hopeful, that those who come to Maine in the future will love the land and the land will give back strength.

The speech is published to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary, in conjunction with the foremost resource on Chamberlain, the Pejepscot History Center in Brunswick. Site manager, Tony Ancona has annotated the speech in its entirety. Chamberlain's notes are included with Ancona's.

Author: Joshua Chamberlain
Publisher: Down East Books
Published: 06/16/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.18lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.75d
ISBN: 9781608937622

About the Author
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlainwas a Bowdoin college professor who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. He became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). He is best known for his gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Following the war, he served as Governor of Maine and president of Bowdoin College.

Troy Ancona has been a docent and site manager with the Pejepscot Historical Society for twenty years, where he is recognized expert on Joshua Chamberlain. He lives in Brunswick.