image: The Library Company of Philadelphia

Philadelphia's 1884 International Exposition of Electricity drew 300,000 visitors who gaped at a fountain brightened by electric lights. More amazing, however, were Thomas Edison's exhibits. One contained brightly lit sprays of flowers attended by a guard sporting an electrified helmet while another, the Edison Pyramid, comprised 2,600 flickering red, white, and blue lights. The show saw the debut of the organization that eventually became the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and also the appearance of the Electrical Girl Lighting Co., which offered girls decked out in illuminated apparel to host events.