Independence Seaport Museum Exhibition Explores Philadelphia's Early China Trade

The Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia is presenting 'Seeking Profit and Power: Philadelphia, China Trade, and the Making of America,' an exhibition running until January 3, 2028. The show marks the 250th anniversary of the United States by examining how Philadelphia merchants initiated direct trade with China after American independence. It features approximately 150 objects including ship logs, Chinese export porcelain, silk textiles, and portraits of merchants, many displayed for the first time. Guest curators Susan Gail Johnson and Brett Palfreyman organize the material into five thematic sections exploring the diplomatic, logistical, and cultural dimensions of this early exchange. The exhibition highlights artifacts like a letter carried by Captain John Green of the Empress of China, the first American trading ship to China in 1784, and porcelain customized for the American market, illustrating how this trade helped establish the U.S. as a global power.