There was little precedent anywhere in the world in how to mark a century of peace between two countries, so the United States and Canada were on their own in deciding the celebrations for the momentous occasion. The two countries agreed on a bridge from New York to Ontario — a fitting symbol, given the speed with which Canada was becoming main trading partner of the United States.

On this day, August 7, in 1927, in a ceremony attended by 100,000 commemorating a hundred years of peace and the friendly ties between United States and Canada, the Peace Bridge between Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Ontario, opened.

Also to commemorate the occasion, Buffalo resident Emma M. Herold-Haft composed the “Peace Bridge March”, played during the ceremony. For the 50th anniversary of the bridge, the U.S. and Canada issued special editions of postage stamps. While the stamps both had the same design of a dove and a bridge across the water, the U.S. stamps were in blue, while the Canada stamps were full color.