One of the big topics in local news of late has been the centennial celebration of the Pan-American Exposition, held in Buffalo in 1901. If you would like to learn more about the Pan-Am Exposition, there are a number of Web sites that provide background information on—as well as images of—this six-month event that allowed Buffalo to showcase itself to the world.

UB is hosting a number of Pan-Am sites. The Pan-Am 2001 Committee's site at http://panam2001.buffalo.edu is the place to start. This site includes background information and a comprehensive listing of local events and exhibits celebrating the centennial. "UB and the Pan-American Exposition" http://ubpanam.buffalo.edu looks at the exposition from the then-University of Buffalo's perspective. Link to information on "UB Day" and an article on "UB Students' Wild Night on the Midway." There also is information on the university's participation in the exposition, specifically the operation of the exposition hospital, which provided treatment to President McKinley immediately following his shooting. "Doing the Pan" http://panam1901.bfn.org features the exposition from the perspective of the "fair-goer" and includes links to an interactive map, as well as to contemporary newspaper and magazine articles. Here, Webmaster Sue Eck tries to answer the question "What was it like to be there?"

The University Libraries host "Illuminations: Revisiting the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition of 1901" http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/exhibits/panam, which is an extension of its Pan-Am related exhibits ongoing through Sept. 30. The site looks at the exposition from topical perspectives ranging from music to food to McKinley's assassination. Included are digitized documents and numerous images and essays contributed by Pan-Am experts and researchers. You also may link to a fascinating look at the Pan-Am from the perspective of people of color, via the "Uncrowned Queens Project" Web site at http://wings.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens/.

The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, the largest repository of Pan-Am related materials, hosts the primary Pan-Am exhibit site which provides exhibit information and a list of frequently asked questions http://www.bechs.org/panam/panam-frm.html. Also providing Pan-Am related information are the "Woman's Pavilion Pan-Am 2001" site http://www.womenspavilion2001.org/ and the Web site of the Buffalo History Works http://intotem.buffnet.net/bhw/panamex/. A great deal of Pan-Am related research material also may be found via the "American Memory Project" http://lcweb2.loc.gov/amhome.html and at Jim Zwick's Web site, "BoondocksNet.com" http://www.boondocksnet.com/index.html.