Lots of things have their roots in Buffalo, NY. When used here, “Buffalo” refers to the whole “Niagara Frontier.” A starter list of things Buffalo follows below, with links.
° If you wanted piano keys at the beginning of the 20th century, your purchasing decision went through Buffalo.
° The “blue” in blue jeans once came from Buffalo’s National Aniline plant.
° “Manhattan” came to Buffalo at the Lake Ontario Ordinance Works.
° The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, the third-most produced American fighter of WWII, was manufactured in Buffalo.
° Wurlitzer organs, pianos, and juke boxes were produced in North Tonawanda, a Buffalo suburb.
° Highest-quality Kittinger furniture that sits in the White House and other exclusive venues was made in Buffalo.
° Buffalo’s Wilson Greatbatch invented the Pacemaker.
° The first manufacturer of Mason Jars was Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company founded in Buffalo in 1880.
° Willis Carrier is credited with inventing the air conditioner while working at the Buffalo Forge Company.
° Steam powered grain elevators made Buffalo the third largest port by tonnage in the world by 1899.
° Buffalo Mayor Grover Cleveland became the 22nd President of the United States.
° After Zachary Taylor died, his Vice President Millard Filmore became the 13th President of the United States. Before and after his Presidency, he significantly pursued social, educational, and philanthropic causes in Buffalo.
° Shaped like a bullet, the X-1 was built by Buffalo's Bell Aircraft Corporation.
° James Ambrose Johnson Jr., aka Rick James, was born and raised in Buffalo.
