On May 1, 1851, Queen Victoria opened the doors to something the world had never seen. Inside a giant building made of glass and iron, over 100,000 objects were on display. There were sculptures from Italy, silk from China, machines from America, and diamonds from India. It was called the Great Exhibition. It took place inside the Crystal Palace in London's Hyde Park. The Crystal Palace was itself a work of art. Joseph Paxton designed the building. It stretched over 1,800 feet long. That is more than six football fields. Sunlight poured through the glass walls and roof. Full-grown elm trees stood inside because the roof was high enough. The Exhibition showed the best achievements of countries around the world. Over six million visitors came during its five months. Many were ordinary workers who could attend on discount days. They saw inventions they had never imagined, from early cameras to flushing toilets. The Great Exhibition changed how people thought about art and technology. It showed that beauty and machines belonged together. Museums built after 1851, including London's Victoria and Albert Museum, were inspired by this idea.