Pan American Exposition

1. Pan American Exposition City of Light – “Expositions are the timekeepers of Progress” Wm. McKinley Mr. Davison Buffalo & WNY History Course

2. What was the Pan Am? • The Pan American Exposition was a World’s Fair held in Buffalo New York from May 1 through November 2, 1901. It is most notable because United States President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz. 

3. Secretary of StateJohn M. Hay - flag day speechJune 14, 1901 • "All the triumphs of the spirit and of the skilled hands of labor, the garnered treasures of science, the witcheries of art, the spoils of earth and air and sea are gathered here to warn, to delight, to encourage and reward the ever-striving, the indomitable mind of man."

4. What’s in a Name • “Pan” means across, or a union or community of interests. Therefore Pan-American means all the America's: North American, Central America, South America • Exposition – to display publicly – a large scale exposition of art and manufacturing as well as culture and science

5. Chronology • 1890’s – committee formed to find a site in America for a trade fair • 1895 – Cotton Exposition in Atlanta Ga. Representatives from Central & South American Propose that the Pan-American should be held • June 1897 Pan-American exposition Co. was formed

6. Chronology Contd. • September 1897 – Cayuga Island near Niagara Falls chosen as site for the fair. • Plans for fair put off due to Spanish-American war in 1898. • When plans are discussed again there was rivalry between Niagara Falls and Buffalo over the location – proximity to electric power was an important consideration

7. Why was Buffalo Chosen? • Population in buffalo 350,000 had more commercial possibilities than the scenic value of Niagara Falls • Buffalo’s extensive rail system put Buffalo within a day’s journey of 40 Million Americans • Buffalo had the “facilities for displaying the new electric age into which the world was entering.” i.e. we were wired for the job!

8. Congressional Approval • July 1898 – in Congress “a pan-American Exposition will undoubtedly be of vast benefit to the commercial interests of the countries of North, South & Central America” • Congress set aside $500,000 for the Exposition to be held in 1901 • Purpose of the Exposition would be to highlight all of the Americas, their people cultures, and new technology. • Remember – this is the age of IMPERIALISM and the U.S. was the latest imperial power

9. Choosing a site • 20 sites proposed • Final choice was the Rumsey property – north of the Buffalo city limit proper, together with a portion of the existing Delaware Park • Site consisted of 350 acres • East to West ½ mile wide from Delaware Ave. to Elmwood Ave. • North to South 1 mile long from the New York Central RR belt line to Delaware Park • Easy access on three sides by existing Trolley lines. Infrastructure already in place!

10. A bird’s eye view of the grounds

11. The "Exposition Formula" the "Exposition Formula," which grew from the tone set by the previous world's fairs in Philadelphia (1876) and Chicago (1893). Joann Thompson describes some of the common elements of this formula below2 (applications of these elements to the Pan-American Exposition follow in parentheses): Evocations of an earlier time. (Spanish Mission and Renaissance architectural styles.) Several buildings of a common theme or style grouped around a centralized focal point in a landscaped setting. (The Electric Tower and buildings on the Court of Fountains.) The exposition as a self-contained city exhibiting the wealth and diversity of the contemporary world. (Thousands of exhibits in an economically thriving region of the country.) The exposition itself serving as an exhibit.(Illumination, impressive architecture and novel use of color.) A very prominent building as a focal point.(The Electric Tower.) The "secret pleasures" of an Exposition Midway In applying this formula to the Buffalo Exposition, Thompson wrote, "The prototype [exposition] consist[ed] of palatial structures situated in a park, the whole of which was to commemorate a particular event or ideal." The Pan-American Exposition exemplified this formula with "more big buildings and an impressive park setting to celebrate the supremacy of the United States in the Western Hemisphere."3

15. A Bird’s Eye View

17. Ground Broken • September 26, 1899 ground broken and construction began • City of Buffalo funds allocated to build a new casino and boat house to become a permanent addition to the Delaware Park • New York State Building constructed for $150,000 with funds from State, Buffalo, and Buffalo Historical Society – designed by George Cary – to become a permanent addition after the fair.

18. Chief Architect – J. M. Carrere Bronz bust of John Merwin Carrere, Carrere and Hastings were architects of the New York Public Library.

19. Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society

20. Pan Am Logo – “commercial well being and good understanding among the American Republics” i.e. Good Friends make Good Business Partners

21. Opening Day May 1, 1901 • Noon – government buildings dedicated with informal exercises • 2PM – 45 aerial bombs fired from the Esplanade as a salute and all the flags unfurled to the tune of “The Star Spangled Banner” • 3PM – 3,000 homing pigeons were released from their cages to the tune of “Home Sweet Home”.

22. Opening Day contd. • The weather was almost perfect • 20,000 people were in attendance • Cost of admission was 50 cents and was lowered to 25 cents on Sunday because the Midway entertainments were closed due to pressure from religious groups.

23. Dedication day May 20, 1901 • Grand Parade from City Hall • Buffalo schools were closed • General Louis L. Babcock was grand marshal • Parade included 104 carriages, troops, and bands – stretched over 4 miles • Honored guests: Theodore Roosevelt Vice- President of U.S. , John G. Milburn – Exposition president, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Conrad Diehl, mayor of Buffalo

24. Exposition Backers were among Buffalo’s “First Families” Dexter P. Rumsey John J. Albright George Cary Key subscribers purchased stock certificates valued at about $10,000 or approximately $225,00 in 2013 dollars.

25. Notables

26. John N. Scatcherd – Pan Am director general and treasurer

27. Buffalo Mayor – Conrad Diehl 1898 - 1901

28. July 5th, 1901 • After attendance of 71,000 on July 4th, July 5th brought torrential rains early in the evening and an electrical storm • 1” of water fell on the city. City was w/o electricity • Trolley cars stranded – passengers stood on seats to keep dry • Children swam in the streets • Cellars flooded to dept of 4 & 5 feet • Water in East Ferry street was 3 feet deep

29. Attendance • Labor disputes and strikes slowed down building construction schedules as did unseasonable weather in late spring. • Many postponed attendance until after July 1 because rumor suggested that final completion could not be done until June 15. • Attendance actually increased after the death of President McKinley and thousands bought souvenirs of the unfortunate event.

30. What did they come to see? • Electric Tower • 411 feet high – taller than Buffalo’s City Hall • View included all of Buffalo, Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Canada – 20 miles away • Inside stairway led to domed cupola • Crowned by a gilded figure, the Goddess of Light

31. Ethnology Building

32. Inscriptions on the exterior of the Ethnology Building • INSCRIPTIONS FOR ETHNOLOGY BUILDING. • I. "KNOWLEDGE BEGINS IN WONDER."—Plato, Aristotle, Langley. • II. "SPEAK TO THE EARTH, AND IT SHALL TEACH THEE."—Job xii, 8 • III. "NOTHING THAT IS HUMAN IS ALIEN TO ME."— Terence. • IV. "AND HATH MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN."—Acts xvii, 26. • V. "WHAT A PIECE OF WORK IS A MAN!"—Shakespeare, Hamlet, ii. 2. • VI. "ALL ARE NEEDED BY EACH ONE."—Emerson, Each and All. • VII. "THE WEAKEST AMONG US HAS A GIFT."—Ruskin. • VIII. "NO SE GANO' ZAMORA EN UNA HORA."—Cervantes, part ii. chap. lxxi. • IX. "O rich and various Man! thou palace of sight and sound, carrying in thy senses the morning and the night and the unfathomable galaxy; in thy brain, the geometry of the City of God; in thy heart, the bower of love and the realms of right and wrong.“ • Analyze each of the above inscriptions – what does each one suggest? • Collectively what statement do they make about mankind in 1901? Today?

33. Electric Tower at Night

34. Triumphal Bridge

35. Agricultural Building

36. The Midway

37. Map of the North Midway ““Africans, Darkies, and Negroes: Black Faces at the Pan American Exposition of 1901, Buffalo, New York.” Uncrowned Queens: African American Women Community Builders of Western New York. Project Leaders: Brooks-Bertram, Peggy and Barbara A. Seals Nevergold (Drs.) Accessed online. 28 October 2002. http://wings.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens/history/black_faces/index.htm

39. 1901 Indian Congress – Native Americans were still considered an exotic curiosity. William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody with a group of Native American chiefs. The group includes, from left, Brave Chief, Eagle Chief, Knife Chief, Young Chief, Buffalo Bill, American Horse, Rocky Bear, Flys Above and Long Wolf. 1885-1900.

40. Native Americans Chief Blue Horse and Chief Big Mouth – twin brothers at the pan American exposition in 1901. William Jennings Bryan is on the far right.

41. Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull

42. How we see the “others” Darkest Africa

43. Chiquita – “The Living Doll”

44. Plantation South Happy former slaves Cake walk at the Old Plantation Photo of the entrance to the Old Plantation from Snap Shots on the Midway of the Pan Am Expo by Richard H. Barry, Buffalo, NY 1901

45. Technology and human advancement.

46. Temple of Music

47. Some New Food Products that were Featured at the Expo • 1872 - Blackjack chewing gum, • 1876 – Premium soda crackers, • 1881 – Pillsbury flour, • 1886 – Coco-Cola, • 1887 – Ball Mason Jars, • 1888 – Log Cabin syrup, • 1889 Aunt Jemima pancake mix, 1889 McCormick Spices, 1889 Calumet Baking Powder , 1889 – Pabst brewing Company, • 1890- Lipton Tea, 1890 – Knox gelatin, • 1891 – Fig Newton cookies, 1891- Quaker Oats, 1891 – Del Monte canned fruits, • 1893 – Juicy Fruit gum, 1893 – Cream of Wheat, 1893 – Good & Plenty candy • 1894 Chili powder, • 1895 – shredded coconut, 1895 Triscuts, • 1896 Cracker Jack , 1896 Michelob beer 1896 S & W canned foods,1896 Tootsie Roll, • 1897 Campbell’s condensed soup, 1897- Campbell’s tomato soup, 1897 Grape Nuts cereal, 1897 – Jell-O, • 1898 Nabisco Graham crackers,, 1898 – Shredded wheat cereal, 1899 Wesson cooking oil, • 1900 – Chiclets gum,,, 1900 – Cotton Candy, 1900 – Hershey’s chocolate bars, • 1901 – Instant coffee

48. President’s DaySeptember 5 1901 • Evening of September 4th McKinley arrived on special train – 21 gun salute from cannons on the Terrace in downtown shattered windows in train. Met at train by Mr. Harry Hamlin. • President was to have attended on Flag Day but delayed due to wife’s illness • Biggest day of fair’s attendance 116,660

49. Last Speech of Wm. McKinleySeptember 5, 1901 • Expositions are the timekeepers of progress. They record the world's advancement. They stimulate the energy, enterprise, and intellect of the people; and quicken human genius. They go into the home. They broaden and brighten the daily life of the people. They open mighty storehouses of information to the student. Every exposition, great or small, has helped to some onward step. Comparison of ideas is always educational; and as such instructs the brain and hand of man. Friendly rivalry follows, which is the spur to industrial improvement, the inspiration to useful invention and to high endeavor in all departments of human activity….. Was McKinley correct in his evaluation of World’s fairs? Would he still be correct today? Take a position and defend it.

50. The President1896 - 1901