Collier’s, Pan-American Exposition
1901
Step back to May 1901 in Buffalo, New York, where illustrator Edward Penfield captured the bustling energy of the Pan-American Exposition for the cover of Collier's magazine. In the foreground, a fashionable woman lounges in a wicker wheelchair—likely a rental to navigate the massive fairgrounds—being chauffeured by a uniformed attendant while a gentleman strolls alongside. Looming behind this leisurely trio is the exposition's iconic Electric Tower, drawn with the bold outlines and flat colors characteristic of the Art Nouveau poster movement. This cheerful scene is a poignant historical snapshot, created just months before President William McKinley was assassinated at this very event.