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.