Acclaim in America

Maria Montessori travelled to America for the first time in 1913, a hugely successful visit leading to an even greater interest in her educational ideas. In the following year, her American supporters urged her to return to conduct training courses, which were in great demand. To celebrate the formidable technical achievement of constructing the Panama Canal, two simultaneous expositions had been organised: The Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. Montessori was invited to give training courses and direct demonstration classes at both fairs. In August 1915, the famous Glass Class was opened at the San Francisco Expo.