Buffalo, New York
1901
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States. The semiquincentennial of American independence invites both celebration and reflection on the nation's past. In this essay, we return to the year 1901, which now stands at the midpoint of the country’s history. The nineteenth century witnessed the development of the telegraph, railroad, and telephone, fostering optimism about a future that seemed destined to benefit all citizens. Writer Henry Allen called the first decade of the twentieth century “The Age of Confidence,” when “Teddy Roosevelt busted the trusts, started digging the Panama Canal, and sent the Great White Fleet around the world.” Six beautifully illustrated cards from the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo capture the confident spirit and optimism of the age.
