The buildings and the fairgrounds were somewhat unfinished on opening day, as political complications had prevented the French government from paying much attention to the exhibition until six months before it was due to open.
Dio paviljona i izložbenog okoliša ostali su nedovršeni i na dan otvaranja, zbog političkih komplikacija koje su spriječile francusku vladu da posveti veću pozornost na pripremu izložbe, sve do šest mjeseci prije otvorenja.