[Group of 3 Stereograph Views of the 1901 Pan American Exposition, Buffalo, New York]

Art Historical Context

This trio of stereograph views, captured by photographers James M. Davis and theburn Brothers, offers a vivid glimpse into the 1901 Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York—a grand celebration of innovation, architecture, and Pan-American unity. Produced as albumen silver prints mounted side-by-side (each 3½ × 7 inches), these images were designed for viewing through a stereoscope, creating a three-dimensional effect that transported 19th-century audiences into the fairgrounds' dazzling world of ornate buildings and illuminated fountains. The exposition showcased neoclassical pavilions, electric wonders, and cultural exhibits symbolizing progress in the Western Hemisphere, drawing millions including President William McKinley and First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley, who appear in one view. Tragically, McKinley's assassination at the event on September 6, 1901, cemented its place in history. Stereographs like these, popular from the 1850s to 1910s, democratized photography, allowing everyday viewers to "step inside" distant spectacles and marvel at engineering feats like the fair's towering Court of Fountains. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Photographs Department (gift of Weston J. Naef, 1982), these prints highlight early photographic techniques' role in documenting ephemeral events, blending artistry with documentary power for an immersive, nostalgic experience.