Niagara Falls: Rainbow City (nickname)

The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (Chicago World’s Fair), at Chicago, Illinois, was dubbed the “White City” because so many buildings were white. The 1901 Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, New York, was dubbed the “Rainbow City” because the buildings had so many different colors.
 
“The Niagara Falls Cataract, whose heart beats true to the rainbow city, shows a little sensitiveness because the Pan-American Exposition is referred to in newspapers as being located ‘in Buffalo’ or ‘near Buffalo’” was printed in the Buffalo (NY) Sunday Morning News on January 30, 1898. “Rainbow City” here seems to refer to Niagara Falls, not Buffalo. The waterfalls create rainbows.
 
“The use of an elaborate color scheme has never before been attempted at an exposition. The appropriate title of the ‘Rainbow City’ has already been applied to this great group of brilliantly colored buildings, and lovers of color will find the exquisite harmony of tints that has here been produced a most delightful subject for contemplation and study” was printed in the Carbon County Sentinel (Gebo, MT) on February 1, 1900. “The June number of the Pan-American Magazine, published at Buffalo, N. Y., is really a work of art. Its fifty-five pages contain much interesting reading regarding the coming exposition to be held in the rainbow city” was printed in the Wilkes-Barre (PA) Record on June 12, 1900. “BUFFALO’S NEW CITY IS ALREADY BEAUTIFUL. Progress of What Will Be Known in the Future as the “Rainbow City” by Day AND THE ‘CITY OF LIGHT’ BY NIGHT” was printed in the Brooklyn (NY) Citizen on November 18, 1900.
 
The nickname of “Rainbow City” predates the Pan-American Exposition opening of May 1, 1901. Buffalo was not called “Rainbow City” after the Pan-American Exposition, but the city of Niagara Falls, New York, is still nicknamed “Rainbow City” today. The Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge opened in 1941.
 
“The city (Niagara Falls—ed.) has made the most of its nickname, the Rainbow City, playing on the rainbow symbol of gay pride. With its Rainbow Bridge to Canada, Rainbow Boulevard and Rainbow-themed businesses, it hopes to attract some of the business same-sex weddings will provide” was printed in the Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune on July 25, 2011. “#NiagaraFalls is the rainbow city! 🌈 Share your #rainbow photos and use #NYHopeHunt” was posted on X/Twitter by Niagara Falls USA on April 8, 2020.
   
 
Wikipedia: Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is a city in the U.S. state of New York. It lies in Western New York on the eastern shore of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River on the Canada–United States border. It is the second-most populous city in New York, with a population of 278,349 at the 2020 census. The Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area, with over 1.16 million residents, is the 2nd-largest metropolitan area in New York State behind only the NYC Metro, and the 51st-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County.
 
Wikipedia: Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and named after the famed Niagara Falls which they share. The city is within the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area and the Western New York region.
 
Wikipedia: Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls)
The Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge, commonly known as the Rainbow Bridge, is a steel arch bridge across the Niagara River, connecting the cities of Niagara Falls, New York, United States, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
 
Construction
The Rainbow Bridge was built near the site of the earlier Honeymoon Bridge, which collapsed in 1938 due to an ice jam in the Niagara Gorge. (...) The bridge officially opened on November 1, 1941.
     
Wikipedia: Pan-American Exposition
The Pan-American Exposition was a world’s fair held in Buffalo, New York, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied 350 acres (0.55 mi2) of land on the western edge of what is now Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Avenue to Elmwood Avenue and northward to Great Arrow Avenue. It is remembered today primarily for being the location of the shooting of United States president William McKinley at the Temple of Music on September 6, 1901. The exposition was illuminated at night. Thomas A. Edison, Inc. filmed it during the day and a pan of it at night.
 
History
The Pan-American Exposition, often referred to as “The Rainbow City”, received national attention in the press and elsewhere a couple of years before, during and after it occurred. During the course of the exposition more than 8,000,000 visitors came to the event.
 
Newspapers.com
30 January 1898, Buffalo (NY) Sunday Morning News, pg. 4, col. 2:
BEHIND THE MISTS.
The Niagara Falls Cataract, whose heart beats true to the rainbow city, shows a little sensitiveness because the Pan-American Exposition is referred to in newspapers as being located “in Buffalo” or “near Buffalo.”
 
Newspapers.com
1 February 1900, Carbon County Sentinel (Gebo, MT), pg. 8, col. 1:
EXPOSITION MAKING.
THE PAN-AMERICAN TO EXCEL IN MANY PARTICULARS.
(...)
The use of an elaborate color scheme has never before been attempted at an exposition. The appropriate title of the “Rainbow City” has already been applied to this great group of brilliantly colored buildings, and lovers of color will find the exquisite harmony of tints that has here been produced a most delightful subject for contemplation and study.
 
Newspapers.com
12 June 1900, Wilkes-Barre (PA) Record, pg. 5, col. 3:
ATTRACTIVE MAGAZINE.
The June number of the Pan-American Magazine, published at Buffalo, N. Y., is really a work of art. Its fifty-five pages contain much interesting reading regarding the coming exposition to be held in the rainbow city and many fine half-tone illustrations.
 
Newspapers.com
21 July 1900, The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI), “Pan-American Exposition Notes,” pg. 10, col. 3:
The editorial associations of West Virginia and Western Canada and a delegation from Pittsburg and other Western Pennsylvania cities recently visited Buffalo and inspected the work of building the “Rainbow City.”
 
Newspapers.com
24 October 1900, Boston (MA) Evening Transcript, pg. 20, col. 1:
THE “RAINBOW CITY”
THE PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION’S SPECTACULAR SIDE
 
Newspapers.com
18 November 1900, Brooklyn (NY) Citizen, pg. 13, col. 1:
BUFFALO’S NEW CITY IS ALREADY BEAUTIFUL.
Progress of What Will Be Known in the Future as the “Rainbow City” by Day
AND THE “CITY OF LIGHT” BY NIGHT.
 
Newspapers.com
25 July 2011, Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune, pg. 7A, col. 3:
Gay marriage pot of gold for Rainbow City
Niagara Falls aims to reinvigorate its wedding tourism.
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP)—
(...)
The city has made the most of its nickname, the Rainbow City, playing on the rainbow symbol of gay pride. With its Rainbow Bridge to Canada, Rainbow Boulevard and Rainbow-themed businesses, it hopes to attract some of the business same-sex weddings will provide.
   
X/Twitter
University at Buffalo Libraries
@UBLibraries
In honor of this year’s ‘One Community, One Book’ selection ‘The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City’ by Margaret Creighton, check out our #UBuffalo archival resources on the Pan-American Exposition of 1901 [1/3]
11:07 AM · May 6, 2019
 
X/Twitter
Niagara Falls USA
@NiagaraFallsUSA
#NiagaraFalls is the rainbow city! 🌈 Share your #rainbow photos and use #NYHopeHunt.
Quote
I LOVE NEW YORK
@I_LOVE_NY
Apr 8, 2020
Thousands of rainbows have been spotted decorating buildings, businesses, and neighborhoods across NYS as a symbol of hope during what is an uncertain time. Help spread that hope by sharing your rainbow photos using #NYHopeHunt! @NYSomh 🌈 #ISpyNY 📸: @megandority via Instagram
1:45 PM · Apr 8, 2020
 
X/Twitter
WGRZ
@WGRZ
The Buffalo History Museum is home to a new exhibit. It’s called “To Rescue the Color: Salvaged Renderings of the Rainbow City,” which will look at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.  https://wgrz.com/article/news/local/pan-american-exposition-exhibit-opens-at-buffalo-history-museum/71-db9af482-c795-4275-bf71-eec3ce4e7784
1:20 PM · Apr 13, 2022
 
X/Twitter
Sheepie Niagara
@sheepieniagara
I *might* be hovering around Rainbow City Pride on @OldFallsTweet right now 👀 #LiveNF #NiagaraFallsUSA
2:31 PM · Jun 24, 2023
 
X/Twitter
DystopiaNow!
@scumbunker
White City London - The Fairy City
St Louis Expo - The Cascade City
Buffalo Expo - The Rainbow City
SF Expo - The Jewel City
Omaha - City of Lights…
Places from dreams that existed in reality.
2:31 PM · Apr 12, 2026