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The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City: Spectacle and Assassination at the 1901 World's Fair
The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City: Spectacle and Assassination at the 1901 World's Fair | Margaret Creighton
8 posts | 6 read | 5 to read
The Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, meant to herald the twentieth century, went tragically, spectacularly awry. In 1901, Buffalo was the eighth-largest city in the United States, and its leaders had big dreams. They would host a world’s fair, showcasing the Americas, and bring millions of people to western New York. With nearby Niagara Falls as a drawing card and with stunning colors and electric lights, they hoped the fair would be more popular and more brilliant, literally, than Chicago’s White City of 1893. The Exposition opened with fanfare; its wonders, both strange and magnificent, dazzled the public. Then tragedy struck. In the early autumn of 1901, an assassin stalked the fairgrounds, waiting for President William McKinley. That was shocking enough, but there were more surprises in store. A female daredevil captivated crowds by trying to ride a barrel over Niagara Falls. Apache leader Geronimo startled visitors with a controversial performance. And a showman called the Animal King, the self-proclaimed star of the Midway, announced that one of his acts, the smallest woman in the world and the fair’s “mascot,” had been kidnapped. Then he staged the attempted electrocution of an elephant. In this extraordinary account, Margaret S. Creighton lifts the curtain on the assassination of McKinley as well as on the fair’s lesser-known battles, involving both notorious and forgotten figures. In a story that is by turns suspenseful, heartrending, and triumphant, she reveals the myriad power struggles that not only marked the Exposition but shaped the new century.
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review
MelissaSue81
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Pickpick

There is so much about my city‘s history that I did not know! So I found this book fascinating. I‘d like to have heard more about the assassination of McKinley and less about the circus animals. But super interesting!! Bottom photo of my wedding reception at the building that was the New York Building at the Pan Am Expo, now the Buffalo history museum. #NFNov

Clwojick 6 pt 5y
50 likes1 comment
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MelissaSue81
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Today I learned, #TIL : a whole bunch of stuff actually but the two that are blowing my mind a little bit are 1) Roswell Park was a PERSON. It‘s the name of a big hospital here and I figured that at best someone with the last name Roswell donated lots of $ but probably thought it was just random 2) when President McKinley was shot, VP Roosevelt had to come straight in from St. Albans VT, which is where both my ILs were born. #NFNov

rsteve388 4 pts 5y
55 likes1 comment
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MelissaSue81
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Started this on audio this morning for another #NFNov read. I've lived in the Buffalo area my entire life and only have a vague knowledge of this piece of local history.

Really interesting so far. And, fun fact, my wedding reception was held in the only Permanent building constructed for the Pan-American Expo in Buffalo. https://tinyurl.com/qqvknz6

rsteve388 1 pt 5y
51 likes1 comment
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heatherkaz
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Mehso-so

I prefer any non fiction I read to be in audiobook form so I don't lose interest and abandon it. This was just okay... I really enjoyed hearing about the women who went over the falls in barrels; I would listen/read a book exclusively about them.
Here's a picture of me and my siblings going over the falls in 1991.

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heatherkaz
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AmandaL I need to learn to crochet! I love knitting but there are so many crochet patterns I'd love to try too. 7y
heatherkaz @AmandaL I completely understand...I love to crochet but feel I need to learn to knit for all the cool projects! One of these days! 7y
26 likes2 comments
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Howseldomtheydo
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Annie Edson Taylor (October 24, 1838 – April 29, 1921) was an American teacher who, on her birthday, October 24, 1901, became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Her motives were financial but she never made much money from her adventure. *Wikipedia #currentlyreading

minkyb There is a musical called QUEEN OF THE MIST recounting this event! (edited) 8y
Lindy @minkyb Also a wonderful picture book: 8y
minkyb @Lindy Thank you! I will check it out! 8y
minkyb Oh wow it is written by Chris Van Allsberg. How did I miss that?! Thanks again @Lindy 8y
86 likes5 comments
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Howseldomtheydo
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As a Buffalonian I have always been interested in the 1901 Pan American Exposition #currentlyreading #litsyAtoZ

87 likes2 stack adds
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WoodyWoodson
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Bailedbailed

Had to finally give up on this one. I can see why people are comparing it to Devil in the White City, but there's just too much going on. Might give it a go another time, but for now, its getting the pug frown.

britt_brooke And what a cute little pug frown it is! 💕 8y
WoodyWoodson @britt_brooke he promptly used that book to rest his chins on after I snapped that pic. He's a sweet lil guy. 8y
LauraJ Pugs make everything better 💕 8y
23 likes3 comments