Before the 1830s, fireworks were essentially monochromatic: they glowed with the orangey hues of burning embers and more dimly than fireworks today. Bringing color to fireworks took a chemical revolution—a transformation of the basic gunpowder formula that had been used for centuries, and the addition of new ingredients to the fireworkers’ toolkit: metal salts, aluminum, magnesium, and other materials that were becoming more widely available with the growth of chemical industries.

"Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks"
Science History Institute
Philadelphia, PA

07.04.26