Why Buffalo?

At the turn-of-the-twentieth-century, Buffalo, New York (population: 350,000)  boasted a number of advantages that appealed to world’s fair planners. Buffalo was the eighth largest city in the United States, and also located within a five hundred-mile radius of the most-populous cities in North America. The city’s easy access to an extensive transportation network of ships and rails was especially important in an era before private cars dominated travel. Moreover, Buffalo’s proximity to Canada and a world-famous natural wonder (Niagara Falls) made it an attractive spot to hold a world’s fair.

Legacy

Despite much anticipation and publicity, the “Pan-Am” did not reach its expected attendance goal.  Cool, rainy weather in the spring and summer kept people away.  By the time the weather improved in September, the Exposition was then overshadowed by the assassination of President McKinley.  When it closed on November 1, only eight million people of the projected twenty million had actually visited the Exposition.

Within a year, most evidence of the Exposition had disappeared.  The tract of land it occupied soon gave way to residential and commercial property.  The New York State Building, one of the few permanent structures built for the Exposition, is now The Buffalo History Museum.  A few buildings and parts of buildings remain scattered throughout the area and “Pan-Am” souvenirs are now much sought after memorabilia.

Aside from the McKinley assassination, the “Pan-Am” had some positive effects on the city of Buffalo.  Millions of visitors were drawn to this center of commerce, industry and transportation.  Many decided to make Buffalo their permanent home.  Industrialists and entrepreneurs saw the potential of electricity and the area’s transportation network.  New industries, including steel and automobile manufacturing, came to Buffalo or expanded here because of the virtues of the area extolled at the Exposition.