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When you think of American cities you think of places built for maximum efficiency and commerce - not necessarily for beauty and harmony. This photo often does the rounds...
But in the early days, Americans prioritized great architecture for the very purpose of inspiring citizens. As Sir Christopher Wren once said, great public buildings are "the ornament of a country" - a way to establish a nation.
It wasn't only public buildings. Take the Erie County Savings Bank in Buffalo (since demolished in an attempt at "urban renewal"):