Some People Don’t Know That Buffalo Was The First To Do These 11 Things

What are some significant historical facts about Buffalo, New York?

Buffalo, New York, is not only an old city with much of its housing predating 1940, but it also boasts some historical firsts and unique facts. The Statler Hotel was the world's first to have bathing areas and running water in every room. A Buffalo native was the first man executed by electric chair. The Ellicott Square building was once the world's largest office building, and surprisingly, when the British burned down Buffalo in 1813, only three buildings survived. Over 200 movies have been shot in Buffalo, and contrary to popular belief, the Buffalo Bills were never intended to be located there. The city once had the highest per capita number of millionaires. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is the second-most columned building in the U.S. Also, the first implantable cardiac pacemaker was invented near Buffalo.

What are the strangest things that have happened in Buffalo?

Buffalo, New York, has seen its fair share of bizarre incidents. The city is known for events such as President McKinley's assassination and the strange sight of a giant rubber duck floating through its harbor. It watched Nik Wallenda tightrope walk across Niagara Falls, and more recently, residents were alarmed when the Scajaquada Creek turned red due to dye spilling into the water. In 1812, Buffalo was nearly destroyed by fire during the War of 1812, and in 2012, a gorilla escaped its zoo enclosure, causing panic. The summer of 2011 was notorious for vehicles crashing into buildings, and that same year, a rare earthquake was felt in Buffalo. Occasionally, residents get a glimpse of the Northern Lights.