The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City: Spectacle and Assassination at the 1901 World's Fair

by Margaret Creighton

The Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, dazzled with its new rainbow-colored electric lights. It showcased an array of wonders, like daredevils attempting to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, or the "Animal King" putting the smallest woman in the world and also terrifying animals on display. But the thrill-seeking spectators little suspected that an assassin walked the fairgrounds, waiting for President William McKinley to arrive. In Margaret Creighton’s hands, the result is "a persuasive case that the fair was a microcosm of some momentous facets of the United States, good and bad, at the onset of the American Century" (Howard Schneider, Wall Street Journal).

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, True Crime, Historical, Audiobook, Crime

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2016

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those wonderful new "history" books that takes a look at a moment of time and brings us face to face with the reality of the situation, based upon a long term perspective of the event. Enjoy these types of books and Margaret Creighton really has expanded her reach with this novel - her past were mostly all books dealing with whaling and other nautical topics.

As she casts the spotlight on the 1901 Buffalo Pan-American Exposition, it is easy for us today to see that this event never really had a chance to be all that it has hoped for. It was held at a time when Worlds Fairs were the rage and every "major" city tried to have one and outdo the other cities, in this case the Chicago World Fair was the example and standard. But one cannot help but wonder how a smallish town in the upstate on New York, a town without a huge city population and with other large cities not in that close proximity, could attempt to better the Chicago results. Yes, Buffalo had Niagara Falls and what really appeared to be a neat electrification of the Pan-Am Fairgrounds, but like all Fairs it had its cast of characters and that helps explain some of the issues here.

The Fair never really got off to the rousing start that had been anticipated and when President McKinley was assassinated at the Fair things only got worse. Again, and I try not to repeat myself, Creighton really does an outstanding job focusing on the people and the issues of the Fair.

We have midgets, African-American issues, Filipino issues, Indian issues (led by Geronimo), animal issues and many who try to become famous by doing daredevil acts at the not too distant Niagara Falls. It is a fascinating book, about a fascinating time and was a very fast read for me. The author also uses the last chapter to wrap up all the story lines and bring light onto present-day Buffalo.

I so enjoy this new vein of "people or event" history, books that really tell us about what I deem Americana and relate facts and stories that are lost in the past to most all of us. This book is extremely readable and enjoyable and is truly filled with photos of the 1901 Fair, and which got me looking onto internet sites to find out even more about this Exposition.

In the end we are left with a Buffalo that tried its best, but just was not able to live up to the standards and hype of Chicago, and with an Exposition that dazzled many but which quickly faded out of peoples minds and into History - awaiting Creighton's superb research and writing. A job well done and a book well worth reading.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher, W.W. Norton, by way of Goodreads.com.

It is an enjoyable, well written account of the organization, presentation and the demise of the 1901 Buffalo, NY World's Fair, and the assassination of President McKinley, therein. Margaret Creighton has presented a well-researched account of the events and, unlike many other history writers, she never wandered away from what she promises in the title. That's exactly why I gave "Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City" a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City by Margaret Creighton peels back the tinted postcard memories of the Pan-American Expoisition to reveal the seamy side of American society a hundred years ago.

Buffalo, New York was the eighth largest city in the United States, a bustling port city just down river from Niagara Falls and the electric power plant that attracted manufacturing plants to Western NY.

Mansions lined Delaware Avenue, and the men who lived in them conceived the idea of hosting a Pan-American Exposition that would outshine the White City's 1893 Chicago World's Fair while highlighting the achievements of the Americas.

Niagara Falls was the inspiration for the fair, and the cutting edge electric power it generated the symbol of man's harnessing the elements to power a rainbow of electric lights that mimicked the rainbows of Niagara's mists.

The Rainbow City did not surpass the White City's success in drawing sightseeing or revenue. It did have a dark side hidden from view.

The Bostwick Trained Wild Animals held secrets of animal abuse and the near enslavement of The Cuban Doll, the diminutive woman who once entertained Queen Victoria. 'Diving Elks' were prodded to dive into tubs of water and hundred of dogs were rounded up for Geronimo and other Native Americans to kill and eat in a public Dog Feast.

Bostwick's Wild Animals, Pan American Redwork pattern sold at the fair
Hoping to ride a wave to fame and money, women climbed into barrels and went over the Falls. And festering in resentment, an immigrant anarchist shadowed President McKinley, and on the steps of the Temple of Music shot the President.


President McKinley and his wife Ida, Vice President Roosevelt and his wife Pan American Redwork
Redwork embroidery was at its peak in popularity in 1901 and Pan-American Exposition Penny Squares, designs preprinted on muslin fabric, were sold with images of the buildings and American symbols.

Temple of Music 'where President McKinley was shot'
After the death of President McKinley the squares read 'Our martyred President' and 'Where President McKinley was shot'.

This book is fascinating reading, especially as I am from the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area, have a Pan-American Redwork quilt showcasing the Exposition's buildings, and have an interest in Presidential history.

Changes in societal values since 1901 are striking. Bostwick planned to publicly electrocute Jumbo II, an elephant whose only crime was love for his female companion; today's circuses have voluntarily given up elephant acts. When planning for the Dog Feast some citizens even offered their pet dogs, including a woman from my home town of Tonawanda! The SPCA turned its face from many of the abuses. And after her escape from Bostwick and her marriage to her secret lover courts returned Alice Espiridiona, the Cuban Doll, to Bostwick!

The fair that was to usher in the 20th c was a precursor of what was to come: the clash of business vs. ethics, women's rights, animal rights, amazing technological advances, and political assassinations.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Kollin (bird) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through the Goodreads Giveaway program.

I generally enjoyed Creighton's work on the 1901 Pan-American Exposition quite a lot. It covers topics that, presumably, few people know about, with the possible exception of the assassination of William McKinley. The book is by no means focused mostly on the president's death, however, as this story is interweaved with many others at the fair. Though some of these are of minimal historical import, they are almost always engaging and at least somewhat worth the reader's time.

The book gives an interesting perspective on the time and the issues that would soon come rising to the surface of the social consciousness. Creighton does a good job of telling the story while also giving insight into how it foreshadowed key battles later on, be it for civil rights or environmental preservation or other things. She gives a fair evaluation of the people and their actions, choosing not to gloss over areas that other writers oftentimes do. I was often impressed with the evenness of her account.

This book is, of course, not a dense history one might use while writing a dissertation. It does not at any time pretend to be. Footnotes do not litter the bottom of the pages, and the tone is at times somewhat informal (for example, at one point, Creighton flashes the caps lock to emphasize her point). However, this does not at all take away from the reader's enjoyment, and I in fact laughed out loud a couple times (in a good way) at Creighton's phrasing or subtle interjection. There are illustrations throughout the book, which are generally unobtrusive and interesting.

I enjoyed Creighton's quirky style and, although I had not previously heard of her, I am interested in checking out some of her previous work. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the topic after a cursory glance. You probably can tell pretty quickly if a book on a fair in 1901 that has some intriguing storylines is your kind of thing or not. If so, here's your green light. You'll enjoy the book.

[Dianne Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a splendid read if you enjoy history. I particularly like that the subject was quite limited, and the author was able to give lots of great details. The book covered the 1901 Pan American Fair in Buffalo, NY. Included was the assassination of Pres McKinley. There was a lot of shocking details on how animals and non White humans were mistreated at the exposition, which was standard for the time. However it was not easy to read about these abuses.

[Deborah Replogle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely fascinating account of the 1901's World's Fair in Buffalo, NY. This is the Fair where Tesla and Edison competed to establish their particular contribution's to electric current; where "civilization" was promoted over the "natural" world; where President McKinley was stalked and assassinated by an anarchist, where 3 women went over Niagara Falls in a barrel, and a variety of other varieties of graft and pageantry were daily happenings. Meticulous research by way of local and national news articles, legal and medical records, scholarly literature, and the memoirs and souvenirs of a teacher who visited the spectacle 33 times. Riveting reading.

This book was provided by GoodReads Reader Reviews for an unbiased review.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful history of the Pan-American Exposition, held in 1901 in Buffalo, NY, and sadly remembered mostly as the place where President McKinley was assassinated. But the Exhibition was there to "demonstrate all the beautiful things electricity could do....the Rainbow City dazzled the public with art and sculpture that celebrated the hydroelectric power of Niagara Falls." Most disturbing to the modern reader, perhaps, is the description of the treatment of not only animals on exhibit, but also people, especially those in the exhibits from "darkest Africa," and the Philippines. The vivid writing style (reminiscent of the classic Devil in the White City, which chronicled the Chicago World's Fair) brings this time period to life. Highly recommended!

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was no Devil and the White City, this detailed chronology of the Pan American exposition in Buffalo, NY was an enjoyable read if you are interested in the pop culture icons of the Gilded Age and presidential assassinations.

Unlike the more edifying exhibits which aimed to inform fairgoers about the United States' neighbors to the south; the most memorable legacies of the fair involved displaying human beings for sensationalism and profit (Native Americans and other "savages"). Other cringe-worthy acts -- like a minstrel show, performed on a float shaped like a watermelon-- glorified "the good old days" of slavery. And while not officially part of the fair, a number of people -- usually women desperate for money -- were motivated by the large crowds in attendance to attempt death defying feats like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. I was not sure anyone had ever been crazy enough to actually do this even though it was a cliche in cartoons like Rocky & Bullwinkle. I also wondered if two of the most popular performers on the Midway -- Uncle Ben and Chiquita (a Mexican midget who pretended to be Cuban) -- were the inspiration behind the advertising mascots of the same name. It seems plausible.

But if that was not enough, the "Electric City" also brought us the Electric Chair (a "humane" alternative method of execution to hanging). It was later used on McKinley's assassin, Leon Czolgosz (filmed by Thomas Edison and available on You Tube). The spot where McKinley was shot became one of the fair's biggest attractions along with the house where he lay dying for almost a week.

However, despite all this (or maybe because of it), the Buffalo World's Fair actually lost money even if it did put the city on the map for a time.

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to the publishers for a free copy of this history of the 1901 Pan -American Exposition in Buffalo NY. This book lived up to my hopes of a broad history of this event. While of obvious interest to someone living in Buffalo with an interest in local history, the writer very effectively painted a picture of American culture just after the turn of the century, as well as describing the assassination of President McKinley.
I found the descriptions of issues such as treatment of animals, minorities ,women,South American neighbors and the political mind of American to be very informative and compelling.
I learned about the expanding role of electricity and the delightful but sometimes tragic stories of the stunts of attention seekers riding over Niagara Falls in barrels to be very interesting and entertaining reading. Much appreciated was her following up on these characters’ lives beyond their brief notoriety.
The writer’s style is scholarly but very approachable and easy to follow, in no way dry. I would encourage anyone with an interest in this period of American History to try this book; it is one of the most effective volumes I have read that embraces such a broad cultural and political swath of history with a specific event.

[victor harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Buffalo hosted the Exposition in 1901 it hoped to exceed Chicago's effort nearly a decade before. It would not achieve that but it certainly wasn't lacking for attractions, many which emphasized non-European cultures, which included a significant presence of Latin American states. Although the festivities would be marred by the assassination of President McKinley, the sponsors plugged away to the conclusion. Women launching themselves over Niagara Falls in barrels made for a popular drawing card, sadly, not with always the desired ending.
Unfortunately there were more grisly activities which involved the animal shows, and readers should be cautioned it is somewhat stomach wrenching. That unpleasant feature aside, it is a strong narrative that captures the vitality and optimism of early 20 century America and rates a strong 4.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
Very well written history of the Buffalo World's Fair. The author did a great job in her research and presentation.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biased rating because I love reading about Buffalo's history!

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's interesting how many people on Goodreads liked this book. I thought it was close to awful; most of the people in my book club didn't get more than 70 pages into it. One didn't get past the horrific beginning about electrocuting the elephant.

My own take was that this wasn't so much about Buffalo's 1901 Pan-American exposition as it was about what Creighton thought about certain aspects of it: exhibitions such as Darkest Africa , the Old Plantation, and the Indian Congress; and the exclusivity of the Women's Building. She seemed especially fascinated by the way animals were treated. Their treatment constituted abuse by contemporary standards; Creighton's fascination with it struck some of us as salacious and prurient.

For much of the book, I had to keep getting past Creighton's opinion to get at the stories. (She even takes a half-hearted swipe at the unfairness of the trial that convicted and executed Leon Czolgosz, who assassinated McKinley.) And there are some great stories, especially about Frank Bostock, the Animal King, who also ran the exhibit featuring Chiquita, a two-foot-tall woman. In my opinion--not widely shared in our group!--his life would make a good book.

In her stories about Chiquita and about Annie Taylor, a woman who survived a trip over the Niagara Falls in a barrel, Creighton comes closest to telling a story without op-editorializing all over the place. Taylor, however, was related to the Pan-Am only a bit.

This was, of course, Creighton's book to write. The book I hoped to read was about the Exposition itself, the way--you knew this was coming--Larson's *Devil in the White City* was about the Chicago Expo (when it was about the Expo at all). I wanted more of the story of Buffalo's movers and shakers who created it, the architects who were chosen (and why they were chosen) to build it, the exhibits themselves.

There were elements of what I wanted, which is why I gave the book two stars instead of one. This was the first time I realized that the Pan-Am designers focused on Western Hemisphere countries to the exclusion of European countries. Creighton, interestingly, suggests that may have been a reason that the number of attendees never approached what the Pan-Am's investors hoped for. She also got me to think about how the Spanish-American War related to the Pan-Am, and I wish she'd explored that further. She mentions how the expo demonstrated man's success in subduing nature, another interesting take on the culture of the time.

So if the Pan-Am interests you, the book's worth a read (unless you can't bear reading about animals suffering). I'll keep it on my shelf.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had its highs and lows. At certain points, Creighton had me fixated and kept me awake longer than I should have been. At other parts, she'd lose me and I'd find myself mentally checking out of the content.

But overall, she did a good job with the material she had. She painted a moderately interesting picture of something I had no knowledge about- I'm familiar with the famous Chicago world fair but hadn't even known one had been held in Buffalo, or that some of the most famous Niagara Falls-jumpers occurred during/because of the fair. Worth a read if you're interested in this time period or aimlessly looking for a book, but I wouldn't chase it down, either.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really great history book. Obviously comparisons will be made to Erik Larson's "Devil In the White City". I do feel that Creighton does try to capture that style, but the big distinction between the two books is that Creighton broadened her scope on who she wanted to focus on which allowed her to tell the stories of a more diverse set of characters. You learn about the people who thought of and directed the fair, fairgoers, the people who ran the acts, the people in the acts, and the people who took advantage of the fair's spotlight to shine a little spotlight on themselves. Creighton also does a excellent job of tying the legacy of the fair into many of today's important social and economic issues. She really gets across that whole this fair may not be remembered as well as the Chicago fair, it had just as much impact on the history of the US.

[John Szalasny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a colorful look at one of the key moments in American history. The Pan American Exposition, as part of a number of "world's fairs" of the 19th and 20th centuries, would not likely require an exposé over 100 years later (except for local historians) except for the assassination of William McKinley.

The visit of the President McKinley to the Exposition and his assassination takes up a sizeable portion of the book and reminds readers that he lived over a week after the attack, and that Buffalo was headline news throughout the United States. But, the author also vividly illustrates how far our attitudes have changed since the turn of the 20th century. Women were beginning to demand equal rights (and to be recognized for their contributions to society). The "civilized" white society's attitudes in the fair towards Blacks (the Old Plantation and Darkest Africa exhibits), Native Americans (the Indian Congress), and "uncivilized" Filipinos (the newest part of the American territories taken as part of the Spanish-American war) would be impossible to condone today. But they were part of the side show along with the animal acts and Chiquita, the smallest woman in the world.

The author uses the conclusion of her book to show how events at the fair contributed to movements that continue to affect us today. Animal and human rights activists can point to the Pan-Am as a starting point. The Niagara Movement (later to become the NAACP) is a direct outgrowth of the Exhibition. And don't forget that the first activist President, Theodore Roosevelt, got his promotion due to the assassination. We would not have the "Bully Pulpit" (and maybe not the Panama Canal) if not for his ascension to the presidency. My only critique of the book is that the last chapter blends the after-fair history of the actors of the Midway with the discussion of the movements. Separating them from the side show would have given the lasting effects of the Pan American Exposition more impact.

[Jake · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City hopes to do for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition what The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America did for Englewood murder castles.

It's hard to not compare the two, as they both interweave the spectacle of a Gilded Age exposition with a true crime narrative (this time the fair is in Buffalo, NY, and the criminal is an anarchist with his sights set on President McKinley). Was it the author's idea or her publishers? Who knows, but unfortunately the result isn't as captivating. For example: Larson spends a lot of time "worldbuilding" the Chicago of 1893. We get passages about the architecture, the railroads, the slaughterhouses, and how the major players got the fair going. Creighton's worldbuilding amounts to about this: "Buffalo was an alright place, at least that's what the people who lived there thought. They thought there should be a fair, so that's what they did."

I'm exaggerating a little, of course. But the main problem for me is that the book just wasn't very interesting to me. The fair didn't seem as grand, the characters weren't as outsized, the true crime wasn't as lurid. And how can you talk about the McKinley assassination without mentioning Robert Todd Lincoln, a.k.a. "Jinxy McCurse," as Sarah Vowell calls him in the wonderful Assassination Vacation? I really wanted to like this book. If goodreads allowed half stars, this one would get 2.5 for being "fine." But "fine" like your answer to how school was, and not "fine" like "fine leather goods."

[Addison Public Library]

The residents and politicians of Buffalo, New York, are elated when they are granted the privilege of hosting the 1901 World’s Fair. They plan a Fair that will highlight one of the era’s most profound innovations: electricity. From the glittering Electric Tower to the exotic Midway, they envision hordes of delighted fair goers pouring money into the city’s coffers. Below the sparkling lights, however, lurks darker forces including an assassin who waits in the shadows for the President to arrive and a world-famous animal trainer whose urbane facade hides nefarious secrets.
KD 12-16

Check out this book today!

[Molly M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read. It is a fascinating account of unplanned events, both disastrous and triumphant, during the 1901 world's fair in Buffalo, NY. Creighton skillfully weaves several parallel and very different narratives that intersect compellingly throughout the book. She creates a cohesiveness and immediacy that make you feel as though you are part of the times and the events being recorded. It is an historical account at its best - well paced, well researched, with true characters that are stranger than fiction, and a story that grabs you from the first few pages and compels you to read long after you should have turned out your light.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. For me, it was hard to read about the animal abuse in the book and it was the reality of the time. The Pan-American Exposition also spurred bringing more attention to animal abuse so in that way it was good. I enjoyed the balance in the book where the auther highlighted the negative impact and aspects of the Pan-American Exposition while also noting positive things about as well. It appeared to be a generally unbiased account.

[Portia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won the book on Goodreads and I'm glad I did. I had read "The Devil in White City" a few years ago, and in many ways reading that book made this one more interesting. There are many comparisons made by the author between the Chicago Exposition (White City) and the Buffalo Exposition (Rainbow City).
The story of Rainbow City is well worth reading even without having read "White City".

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of detail and fascinating background on an exposition I knew nothing about until reading this. A good reflection of the times through the mirror of the fair and the reactions of the public. Though this was a well-researched and annotated text, the author does not quite have Erik Larson's ability to weave suspense and emotion into the narrative. Still, a good read.

[Jean Mehochko · Rating 4 out of 5]

1850 to 1950 is my favorite time period and this book's subject falls right in the middle. A very interesting time with some great thinkers (and writers). I did not know much about this particular World's Fair, nor the assassination of McKinley, so I learned a lot. Written in a similar style to Erik Larson, whose writing I enjoy.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how much interest this book will garner with people unfamiliar with the Buffalo Exposition of 1901, but I found it a fascinating and informative read. I especially liked how the author tied the abusive treatment of humans as well as animals to where we are today on the decency spectrum. I learned so much about my city.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of the 1901 Buffalo World's Fair and the assassination of President Mckinley. I learned a lot about the history of the United States during this time, as well as about the city of Buffalo.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously owes a debt to Erik Larsen's Devil & the White City... but is served well by intertwining the threads of multiple stories throughout the fair.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great work of historical fiction!

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book! If you are looking for a great local history read or a gift idea for someone, try this book. Several ties to our fair Auburn.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read...Really enjoyed learning about the Pan Am and Buffalo in 1901...

[Thomas Littler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book following my reading of the Devil in the White City. Buffalo is the city of my birth and I loved the history of it.