The purpose of the Pan Am World Fair was to promote trade relations with Central and South America. The fair was off to a fairly slow start, but President McKinley went to the fair and was shaking hands with the public, when an assassin fired a bullet which eventually killed him. Afterward the fair was much better attended. A link to the McKinley assassination spoons is provided near the bottom of this exhibit.
From the top: Buffalo (surrounded by blue enamel), Indian Chief holding hatchet
Bowl shows the linking of North America and South America surrounded by a light blue enamel.
The continents are actually mythological figures (look closely)
The Reverse has a picture of Niagara Falls
This spoon is also available without enameling and often shows an electric tower in the bowl
A nice large "miner pan" style bowl with an engraved view of North and South America
"The Temple of Music"
where McKinley was meeting the public
A very unique spoon featuring a buffalo with actual ruby eyes. Although it is not marked as being from the fair, I suspect that it is a fair souvenir.
buffalo symbol from the fair (rebus)
This spoon is an interesting mix. The finial shows the Mexican eagle with a snake in its mouth and the bowl is engraved from the Pan-American Expo, Buffalo, 1901. There are no markings but I suspect it is Mexican made for resale at the fair.
Common silver plated demi spoon from the Pan-Am world fair
The Electric Tower was the most visible element of the fair and is commonly found on spoons. The use of electricity was a new phenomenon and anything related to this "miracle" was the subject of much conversation.
Visit the McKinley memorial spoon page