Final Narrative

This project has been a semester long evolution from an puff of a thought to a virtual site with video, images and interactive sections! I think it has been wonderful to form an idea, a thesis really, and transform it into something the whole world has the ability to view.

I wanted to revisit the history of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. because while I live here, it can be easily forgotten over a century later. I would even go further and say that the Pan-American exposition defined the period of a time when Buffalo was at its peak, economically and socially. Just imagine; the same man who sculpted the grounds around the White House and the Jefferson Memorial designed the Buffalo Park System. This indicates how significant of a city Buffalo really was during the early twentieth century. You have the famous Millionaire's Row on Delware and Lincoln Parkway, proving that Buffalo was not always the destitute city is it now. By recapturing the past, specifically the 1901 Pan-Am Expo, we giving Buffalo back its former glory as being a cultural hot-spot.

The Pan-American Exposition was a profound symbol of Buffalo's wealth ("The Pan-American Experience"). There was absolutely no government funding in this project. It was due to the wealthy families, living in Buffalo who fund raised and provided the support for bringing the Exposition to Buffalo. How did they raise the money for such a large project? They sold stock certificates, where buyers could own a share in the profits of the Expo. 

The Expo itself featured majestic architecture and lush, flowering gardens. Built on the shape of a "T", the exposition housed an outdoor stadium where sporting events, re-enactments of war battles and parades were held. The Midway offered all sorts of amusements to the pubic; from carnival rides, to "Trip to the Moon", to delicacies of all ethnic foods. It was here that the Expo made its real profit, for individual sellers charged anywhere from 25 cents to 50 cents. Located at the far end of the Expo was the focal point of this mini-city landscape: The Electric Tower. This showcased how electricity was being generated off the hydro-power of the incredible and powerful Niagara Falls. The entire Expo was generated off such new technology, with its electrical heart center being in the Electric Tower.

Pan-American Exposition, 1901. Notice the warm colors.

The architecture of the buildings was also important. Designed in the Spanish Renaissance style, architects wanted to break away from the traditional white features of Neoclassical architecture. They wanted something that showed a warmness to it, and something that also was symbolic to the American history. Beginning from the red roofs, it symbolized man's earliest origin in the Americas-- as Native Americans using red clay mud to paint their faces. As you moved along the "T", ending at the Electric Tower, the buildings gradually became softer in color and texture--- showing man's refinement and education. Sculptures lined the walkways, gardens were spewed everywhere, and the architecture using every aspect of the design process showed the first collaborative effort of the arts--- color, architecture, landscaping and sculpture.

The buildings however, were not meant to last a long lifetime. Made only of plaster, mesh and wood, the buildings survived the short time of the Expo... six months only. It was only the New York State Building, as an honor to the state in which the Expo happened, was built for permanent use. Today it is the Buffalo and Erie Country Historical Society, and appears just as it was in 1901. It was made of solid marble and was inspired by the Parthenon.

How did the Expo attract its visitors? One of the chairmen for the committee had an ingenious idea-- to print an advertisement on the shipping labels of AExpress, a Buffalo business company that shipped to many major cities. Over 40 million people were reached this way, with the slogan to entice them that from cities like Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, etc., they were only a day's train away from Buffalo.

The Pan-American Exposition was a endeavor to combine the Arts, Sciences and Industrial fields. Buildings such as the U.S. Government Building showcasing America's history and Civil War memorabilia; The Temple of Music, where 2200 people could listen to concerts; The Ethnology Building were "original peoples of the Americas" were exhibited and anthropologies, who just began their scientific field, could "lend legitimacy to their profession" ("The Pan-American Exposition"). In addition to this, several pseudo-villages were created that displayed native peoples in their own atmosphere. Filipino, Eskimo and African villages were all included.

One part of the Expo that is sometimes overlooked was the Negro exhibition. In 1901, there was only roughly about 1700 or less African Americans living in Buffalo. Compared to the entire Buffalo population, this was a very small percentage. It was through the determination of Mrs. Mary Talbot of the Phyllis Weakley Club of Colored Women that demanded an African American exhibit be included in the Expo.

Nighttime at the Expo was magnificent. It was a living "fairytale"; search lights lite the grounds and changed colors, making a display of lights as never before seen -- especially all powered on the hydro-electric power of the Niagara Falls. It was described as a "soul-moving experience"; with people traveling from the countryside, who never saw anything of its like, were so moved that they began to cry at the Expo's beauty.

The all so surreal effect of beauty was crushed however, on September 6th, 1901. McKinley was fatally shot in the Temple of Music by an assassin. While he seemed to be recovering some days after the incident, McKinley went to his final rest after an infection set in. It was here in Buffalo, at the Wilcox Mansion, in borrowed clothing no less, that Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the next President of the United States. At the passing of his predecessor, Roosevelt stated, "God's will be done, not ours" ("The Pan-American Experience").

After such a tragedy at the Expo, committee members were certain that no one would want to come to the fair anymore. However, much to their surprise, attendance increased after the shooting of McKinley, with people's need to pay their respects and see the infamous Temple of Music were the incident happened.

Triumphal Arch being demolished.

On November 2nd, 1901, the lights went out at the Pan-American Exposition for the final time ("The Pan-American Exposition"). Recorded at having over 8 million visitors, the buildings were all demolished-- buried underneath the land it once stood. While the Expo was a cultural success, it barely broke even financially with a gross income of $50 million.

This was why I wanted to tell this story about the Pan-American Exposition; because there is so much of it we do not know. Buffalo is in a precarious position right now; being blamed for destroying landmarks and places of architectural wonders, Buffalo is fighting to preserve its history and past. Although the site of the Exposition is still there in the heart of the city, rows of houses lie over what was once the Midway, the Electric Tower, the Temple of Music and the Ethnology Building. No other building aside from the New York State Building, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, survived the demolition in 1901. Markers, rusted and wearing, are the only remembrance of such a remarkable event.

Pictures today of the Pan-American Site: also for view on the Slideshow Gadget to the left.

The New York State Building

The rusted markers indicating what building was where on Lincoln Parkway

Site of the Temple of Music

A sad memorial to President McKinley, marked where he was shot

A Marshall retail store now stands were the outdoor Stadium once was

I sincerely hope that you enjoyed reading along this project; I had much fun in researching and developing my ideas for this virtual public history course. Although at times finding such older, historical information was difficult, you just have to keep at it until you find exactly what you are looking for. Also in this course, I learned not to be as afraid or fearful of technology. Videos, slide shows, and all other kinds of programs only enhance your work. I hope that this project gave you cause to stop and think what kind of history is lurking underneath your grounds in your neighborhoods. Do you know how important it is to how your community is today? Once again, I hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did!