This May, the story of Buffalo’s Pan-American Exposition returns to the Buffalo History Museum—the Exposition’s only planned permanent structure. Held between May and November of 1901, the Exposition aimed to celebrate the achievements of the Western Hemisphere and foster better relations between the nations of North, South, and Central America. It also celebrated industrial, cultural, and technological progress—the centerpiece of which being the large-scale use of electricity to illuminate its buildings each night. This new exhibit inside our Museum’s State Court will recount the story of the fair—its planning, construction, and legacy—and feature a variety of Pan-Am artifacts, paintings, and photographs.

The exhibit will launch in conjunction with the 123rd anniversary of the exposition’s opening week. From 2:30 to 4:30 pm on May 2, we’ll also welcome the Pan-Am Collector’s Club, who will host a show and tell of exposition artifacts they have collected through the years. Admission is pay-what-you-wish. All are welcome!