1901 Niagara Falls Pan-American Exposition Medal MS61 NGC. Aluminum, 31.7 mm.

In 1901, Buffalo, New York was one of America’s preeminent cities.  Its growth and stature were largely a result of its geography.  Located on the shore of Lake Erie, Buffalo had access to the great lakes and the trade that they brought, which caused it to be a place of importance for the commercial trade in Western New York.

Also of great importance is the proximity of Buffalo to Niagara Falls.  This natural wonder, a major tourist attraction both then and now, was also a huge source of hydroelectric power, a technology that was still in its infancy at the turn of the century.  Originally, Buffalo’s 25-mile distance from the falls had meant that it was too far to benefit from this power source, but Nicola Tesla’s work developing alternating current in the 1880’s meant that electric power from Niagara could be transported to Buffalo, allowing the city to become one of the first to be powered with a modern, sustainable electric system.