In the spring of 1901, Buffalo, New York, was abuzz with excitement as it prepared to host the Pan-American Exposition. This grand event, a world's fair, was intended to showcase the cultural, technological, and scientific achievements of the Western Hemisphere, with a particular emphasis on the United States and Latin America. Buffalo, thriving as an industrial city and strategically positioned as a gateway to the American West and Canada, was an ideal location for the exposition.
Planning for the exposition had begun in the late 1890s. The site chosen for the event was a sprawling 350-acre area in Delaware Park, designed by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The architectural firm Green & Wicks was tasked with designing many of the buildings, which featured a neoclassical style that lent an air of classical grandeur to the fairgrounds.
As the exposition opened on May 1, 1901, visitors were greeted by the sight of the magnificent Electric Tower. Standing at 391 feet tall and adorned with thousands of electric lights, the tower symbolized the era's advancements in electricity and power generation. The fairgrounds were a marvel of innovation and cultural displays. Ethnology exhibits showcased the diversity of cultures across the Americas, with detailed displays of indigenous peoples, their customs, and artifacts.
Technological innovations were prominently featured, drawing crowds eager to see the latest advancements. New agricultural machinery, electric railways, and early forms of the X-ray machine were just some of the marvels on display. The Midway, filled with rides, games, and sideshows, provided endless amusement for visitors of all ages. Cultural pavilions representing various states and countries displayed artifacts, products, and innovations, with the New York State Pavilion, designed by Green & Wicks, standing out as a particularly impressive structure.
Amidst the splendor and excitement, a dark moment in history unfolded. On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley visited the exposition. While attending a reception at the Temple of Music, he was approached by Leon Czolgosz, a 28-year-old anarchist inspired by anarchist Emma Goldman and the recent assassination of King Umberto I of Italy. Concealing a .32 caliber revolver under a handkerchief, Czolgosz extended his left hand to shake the President's while firing two shots with his concealed weapon. The first bullet grazed McKinley's shoulder, while the second struck his abdomen, causing severe internal injuries.
Despite the initial optimism of his doctors, gangrene set in around McKinley's wound sites, and his condition rapidly deteriorated. On September 14, 1901, eight days after the shooting, President McKinley succumbed to his injuries. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was swiftly sworn in as the 26th President of the United States.
The assassination cast a somber shadow over the Pan-American Exposition, profoundly affecting the nation. As the exposition closed on November 2, 1901, the temporary buildings constructed for the event were dismantled and demolished. Yet, one structure, built to be permanent, remained standing—the New York State Pavilion. This building later became the Buffalo History Museum, the only remaining structure from the exposition.
Today, the Buffalo History Museum stands as a historical landmark, a testament to the grandeur of the Pan-American Exposition and a repository of Buffalo's rich history. It offers visitors a glimpse into the past, preserving the legacy of the exposition and the city that hosted it.