Buffalo, Good Neighbors, Great Architecture (Making of America: New York)

Buffalo, New York owes much of its fame to the Erie Canal, which ushered in unprecedented growth and prestige to what was at its peak the nation's eighth largest city. Burgeoning railroads and grain, coal, and lumber exports dominated this industrial giant through the dawn of the twentieth century, culminating in the city's crowning moment of glory, the Pan American Exposition of 1901. As industry declined and residents fled to the suburbs, perceptive citizens recognized Buffalo's vast architectural treasures and rescued many landmarks with the intention of preserving the community's heritage.

Author Nancy Blumenstalk Mingus chairs the Town of Amherst Historic Preservation Commission, is a member of several local and national preservation organizations, and has published three books and many articles. She presents here the first comprehensive history of Buffalo, focusing on the people and structures that made the city famous. The lively narrative and striking historic images offer a valuable, informative account of this vital northeastern city.