Calendar
Phone reservations: 716-852-3300 -- Check or money order -- Mail-in credit card
Buffalo is nationally known for its many Victorian and early modern architectural gems. Three of the greatest architects in American history - Richardson, Sullivan and Wright - all have signature buildings in Buffalo.
Visitors and residents alike are cordially invited to enjoy any of the 50 self-guided audio tours and nearly 500 guided tours now offered by Buffalo Tours. Experience firsthand Buffalo's magnificent historic and architectural heritage!
Guided Tours
Most guided tours do not require reservations. Simply arrive at the indicated starting point a few minutes before the tour is scheduled to begin. Tours will take place rain or shine. In the event of extreme weather, call 716-852-3300 for cancellation information.
For those tours that require reservations, there are three ways to do so: by telephone at 716-852-3300 during regular working hours, online at buffalotours.org, and by mail (download the form and mail to 617 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203). Make checks payable to Buffalo Tours. Please make reservations at least 24 hours in advance, and by Friday for Sunday tours.
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday year 'round (except holidays) |
City Hall Learn all about this Art Deco masterpiece -- inside and out. 12 noon - 1 p.m. Meet in the City Hall lobby Free |
| Tuesdays Year 'round (except July and Aug.) |
Downtown Walking Tours · Buffalo, the Best Designed City in North America: Ellicott, Olmsted, and E. B. Green 1st Tuesday of the month · Three 19th Century Presidents in Buffalo: Fillmore, Cleveland, and McKinley 2nd Tuesday of the month · Chicago Meets Buffalo: Burnham, Sullivan, and Wright 3rd Tuesday of the month · Underground Railroad to the Niagara Movement: Mary Talbert and Friends 4th Tuesday of the month 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Meet in front of the Landmark Society office in the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturdays Year 'round |
Offered for the first time! Artspace's Backyard: An Emerging Neighborhood Explore the architecture, history, and unique urban homesteading opportunities in the Artspace backyard, which is fast becoming Buffalo's newest arts and educational neighborhood. In case of bad weather, the conversation moves inside the café to focus on issues presented during the walking tour. Author of the fixBuffalo blog, docent David Torke is a ten-year resident of the neighborhood. Saturdays year round, 11 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at the Delta Sonic café, 1264 Main, across from Artspace Donation: $10 |
| Sunday May 6 |
Inside the Central Terminal The Art Deco Central Terminal evokes poignant memories of departure and reunion and dismay over its deterioration under various owners. Since 1997, the nonprofit Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, Buffalo Tours' partner in presenting this tour, has arrested deterioration, restored the tower clock, and conducted regular cleanups and well-attended events on site. See the results and hear further plans. Cosponsored by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet at the Central Terminal on Memorial Drive off Broadway. Donation: $10 |
| Saturday May 12 |
Offered for the first time! Interior Views Around the Avenue This is a rare opportunity to view work in progress at the Coit House, Buffalo's oldest residence; the interiors of Ani DiFranco's The Church; the Cornell mansion, and an ante-bellum Greek Revival; and to admire Trinity's LaFarge and Tiffany windows. Lunch and a lecture on the Buffalo River's role in Buffalo's industrialization follow at McCarthy's Pub in the Old First Ward. 9:30 a.m. Meet at Trinity Episcopal Church, Delaware between W. Tupper and Edward Donation: Tour/lunch/lecture, $32; tour only, $20 Reservation recommended |
| Saturday May 19 |
Offered for the first time! Inside and Around Oakland Place Though only one block long, Oakland Place boasts one of the city's finest residential streetscapes. Architectural historian Martin Wachadlo will share his knowledge of the architecture, history, industrial leaders, and families that built the more than forty refined and high-quality residences representing a wide range of age, style, and size. The tour includes several interiors. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at corner of Oakland and Summer Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Saturday May 26 |
Offered for the first time! Heart of Polonia - It Still Beats Strong Dominated by its massive Catholic churches interspersed with business and residential designs of the highest order, the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood was the heart of Western New York's Polish-American community for generations. Learn more about this neighborhood's past, and about present revitalization efforts by Broadway-Fillmore Alive and other groups. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the main entrance of St. Stanislaus Church, 123 Townsend Donation: $10 |
| Sunday May 27 |
H. H. Richardson Complex On this tour, we'll walk the perimeter of one of H. H. Richardson's greatest designs, the Buffalo State Hospital (interior tours have been unavailable since 2003). Surrounded by an Olmsted landscape, this largest of Richardson's creations influenced a much emulated architectural style named for the architect, Richardsonian Romanesque. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Forest Avenue Gate at the head of Richmond Avenue Donation: $10 |
| Saturday June 2 |
Inside Four Treasures on Delaware Avenue On this tour, you'll view the interiors of four of Buffalo's architectural treasures: the 1922 Tudor Revival Saturn Club, the 1895 Delaware Avenue Baptist Church, the luxurious 1903 Goodyear mansion; and, lastly, the beautifully restored Greek Hellenic Church, where, afterward, we invite you to enjoy a Buffalo favorite, the Hellenic Festival. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Saturn Club, 977 Delaware Ave. Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Sunday June 3 |
Inside the Central Terminal The Art Deco Central Terminal evokes poignant memories of departure and reunion and dismay over its deterioration under various owners. Since 1997, the nonprofit Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, Buffalo Tours' partner in presenting this tour, has arrested deterioration, restored the tower clock, and conducted regular cleanups and well-attended events on site. See the results and hear further plans. Cosponsored by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet at the Central Terminal on Memorial Drive off Broadway. Donation: $10 |
| Saturday June 9 |
H. H. Richardson Complex On this tour, we'll walk the perimeter of one of H. H. Richardson's greatest designs, the Buffalo State Hospital (interior tours have been unavailable since 2003). Surrounded by an Olmsted landscape, this largest of Richardson's creations influenced a much emulated architectural style named for the architect, Richardsonian Romanesque. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Forest Avenue Gate at the head of Richmond Avenue Donation: $10 |
| Saturday June 16 |
The Niagara River and Black Rock Boat Tour On this cruise, you'll view traces of the Erie Canal on the shoreline as well as the site of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed boathouse under construction. You'll learn the history of Scajaquada Creek, its abuse and opportunities for restoration, and you'll travel through the Black Rock Canal locks and past Squaw Island. Cosponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at the Miss Buffalo Cruise Boats, 79 Marine Drive, at the Erie Basin Marina Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Sunday June 17 |
Tour de Neglect Bicycle Tour This ride through Buffalo's east side will examine some of our unique but neglected, and threatened, architectural heritage, including the German Roman Catholic Orphan Home and Sacred Heart and Transfiguration churches. Docent David Torke is a ten-year resident of the neighborhood behind Artspace and author of the fixBuffalo blog. 12 noon - 3 p.m. Meet at the Delta Sonic café, 1264 Main, across from Artspace Donation: $10 Reservation recommended. Bicycle helmets mandatory. Your own water and snacks recommended. Be sure your bicycle is in good working order. |
| Friday June 22 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Saturday June 23 |
Offered for the first time Larkin, Wright, and a Forgotten Neighborhood Explore the legacy of soap entrepreneur John Larkin and architect Frank Lloyd Wright with an interior tour of the restored Larkin at Exchange Building. View the vestiges of a once thriving neighborhood and the interior of St. Stephen's R. C. Church, and hear about plans for revitalization. Lunch with us afterward at Sharkey's Café at Van Rensselear and Roseville and take a trivia quiz for prizes. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at St. Stephen's Church, 193 Elk Street Donation: $10 (lunch not included) Reservation recommended |
| Sunday June 24 |
Offered for the first time Gold Medal on Wheels Invented in Buffalo in the mid-1800s, the grain elevator placed the Queen City at the forefront of the grain industry with 38 towering elevators lining the Buffalo River by 1931. This tour will celebrate these architectural behemoths on a leisurely ride along the river, as well as a side trip through the neighborhood that once supplied the scoopers. 12 noon - 2:30 p.m. Bicycle tour meets in front of HSBC Arena at Washington and Perry Donation: $10 Reservation recommended. Bicycle helmets mandatory. Your own water and snacks recommended. Be sure your bicycle is in good working order. |
| Friday June 29 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Saturday June 30 | Offered for the first time! Inside and Around Oakland Place Though only one block long, Oakland Place boasts one of the city's finest residential streetscapes. Architectural historian Martin Wachadlo will share his knowledge of the architecture, history, industrial leaders, and families that built the more than forty refined and high-quality residences representing a wide range of age, style, and size. The tour includes several interiors. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at corner of Oakland and Summer Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Sunday July 1 |
Canada Day Boat Tour Celebrate Canada Day with a trip through history, exploring Niagara's place in two great wars, its importance to the Great Lakes, and its part in peace and freedom movements, including the Underground Railroad. Learn about binational efforts to restore the river's water quality and natural beauty - from the late-1800s' "Free Niagara" movement to remediation and greenway planning efforts today. Cosponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper 3 - 5 p.m. Meet at the Miss Buffalo Cruise Boats, 79 Marine Drive, at the Erie Basin Marina Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Sunday July 1 |
Offered for the first time! Heart of Polonia - It Still Beats Strong Dominated by its massive Catholic churches interspersed with business and residential designs of the highest order, the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood was the heart of Western New York's Polish-American community for generations. Learn more about this neighborhood's past, and about present revitalization efforts by Broadway-Fillmore Alive and other groups. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet at the main entrance of St. Stanislaus Church, 123 Townsend Donation: $10 |
| Monday - Friday July 2-6 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday July 6 |
Offered for the first time! City of Light Bus Tour Just over 100 years ago, the eyes of the world were focused on Buffalo, an illustrious city boasting state of the art skyscrapers, electric street lights, opulent wide parkways, and a world's fair, the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. On this tour, you'll visualize that Buffalo through the eyes of the heroine of the historical novel, City of Light. 1 - 3:30 p.m. Meet at Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway Donation: $40 Reservation recommended Minimum registration recommended |
| Friday July 6 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Saturday July 7 |
Who Was Who on the Avenue? Stroll with us down Delaware Avenue past the Midway's 1890s Neoclassical row houses and learn how Buffalo movers and shakers lived - and died - during the Gilded Age. The July tour ends within walking distance of "Taste of Buffalo"; the August tour ends with lunch and a trivia quiz at Founding Fathers Pub on Edward Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the corner of Tracy and Delaware Donation: $10 (lunch not included) Reservation recommended for August 18 tour |
| Saturday July 7 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Sunday July 8 |
Inside the Central Terminal The Art Deco Central Terminal evokes poignant memories of departure and reunion and dismay over its deterioration under various owners. Since 1997, the nonprofit Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, Buffalo Tours' partner in presenting this tour, has arrested deterioration, restored the tower clock, and conducted regular cleanups and well-attended events on site. See the results and hear further plans. Cosponsored by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet at the Central Terminal on Memorial Drive off Broadway. Donation: $10 |
| Sunday July 8 |
Offered for the first time! Gold Medal on Foot Join us for an update on Cobblestone District and Commercial Slip developments and for a walk over the Michigan Avenue lift bridge for a close-up of General Mills and other majestic elevators left from our former grain-based economy. While on tour, munch on the General Mills product sample everyone will receive. 1:00-3:00 p.m.. Walking tour meets in front of the HSBC Arena at Washington and Perry Donation: $10 |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday July 9-13 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday July 13 |
Crime and Scandal Did Grover Cleveland really father a son out of wedlock? Who was hanged before a crowd of thousands in Niagara Square? Where downtown did the KKK have an office? What robbery led to the book/movie "Hide in Plain Sight"? This walking tour visits locations associated with these and other fascinating crimes and scandals in downtown Buffalo. 6-8 p.m. Meet at Niagara Square Donation: $10 |
| Friday July 13 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Saturday July 14 |
Offered for the first time! Darwin Martin's Downtown See downtown through the eyes of Darwin Martin, who brought Frank Lloyd Wright to Buffalo and remained his benefactor for more than 30 years. Visit where young Martin took accounting classes, where he saw Edwin Booth perform in Hamlet, where he maintained offices. Learn about the architecture and hear what Martin wrote about these and other places with a Wright connection, courtesy of the University Archives, University at Buffalo. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the northwest corner of Main and Seneca Donation: $10 |
| Saturday July 14 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Sunday July 15 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 4:45 -6:00 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Sunday July 15 |
Offered for the first time! Halting the Madness Join the fight against blight. Hear how a group of determined citizens, called the West Side Community Collaborative, has successfully prevented almost a dozen demolitions and helped turn formerly vacant properties into thriving homes. Harvey Garrett tells the proud tale of the WSCC and its efforts to revitalize a neighborhood, one property at a time. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Chenango and Rhode Island, in front of Left Bank Restaurant Donation: $10 |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday July 16-20 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday July 20 |
Offered for the first time! Discover the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus With two-year-old Hauptman-Woodward Institute as example, learn about green architecture, view slides on the history of the Medical Campus area and, on a walking tour, learn more about the research being conducted, the sites slated for business development, and the plans for Ellicott Street and the Allen Street extension. 2 - 3:30 p.m. Meet in the lobby of the Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics, 701 Ellicott at Virginia Donation: $10 |
| Saturday July 21 |
Chippewa and the Victorian, Too Get a firsthand view of a one-time flophouse restored to its original 1850s grandeur complete with adjacent Buffalo in Bloom award-winning gardens. Walk down Chippewa and learn about the street's ties to the Ku Klux Klan, the Communist party, and a local stardom-to-destitution sports hero. This tour offers great examples of demolition by neglect, restoration, and adaptive reuse. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the corner of Elmwood and Chippewa Donation: $10 |
| Saturday July 21 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Sunday July 22 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 1:00 -3:00 p.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Sunday July 22 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 4:45 -6:00 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday July 23-27 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday July 27 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Saturday July 28 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturday July 28 |
Tour de Neglect Bicycle Tour This ride through Buffalo's east side will examine some of our unique but neglected, and threatened, architectural heritage, including the German Roman Catholic Orphan Home and Sacred Heart and Transfiguration churches. Docent David Torke is a ten-year resident of the neighborhood behind Artspace and author of the fixBuffalo blog. 12 noon - 3 p.m. Meet at the Delta Sonic café, 1264 Main, across from Artspace Donation: $10 Reservation recommended. Bicycle helmets mandatory. Your own water and snacks recommended. Be sure your bicycle is in good working order. |
| Sunday July 29 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 4:45 -6:00 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Sunday July 29 |
H. H. Richardson Complex On this tour, we'll walk the perimeter of one of H. H. Richardson's greatest designs, the Buffalo State Hospital (interior tours have been unavailable since 2003). Surrounded by an Olmsted landscape, this largest of Richardson's creations influenced a much emulated architectural style named for the architect, Richardsonian Romanesque. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Forest Avenue Gate at the head of Richmond Avenue Donation: $10 |
| Monday - Tuesday July 30-31 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Wednesday Thursday Friday August 1-3 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday August 3 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Saturday August 4 |
The Buffalo River Boat Tour Don't miss this river view of Buffalo's unparalleled collection of monumental elevators, historic reminders of the city's grain-trade that generated great prosperity in the heyday of lake commerce. Architectural historian Reyner Banham called them "the most influential structures ever put up in North America." Cosponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at the Miss Buffalo Cruise Boats, 79 Marine Drive, at the Erie Basin Marina Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Saturday August 4 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Sunday August 5 |
Offered for the first time! Inside and Around Oakland Place Though only one block long, Oakland Place boasts one of the city's finest residential streetscapes. Architectural historian Martin Wachadlo will share his knowledge of the architecture, history, industrial leaders, and families that built the more than forty refined and high-quality residences representing a wide range of age, style, and size. The tour includes several interiors. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at corner of Oakland and Summer Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Sunday August 5 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 4:45 -6:00 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday August 6-10 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday August 10 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Friday August 10 |
Offered for the first time! Discover the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus With two-year-old Hauptman-Woodward Institute as example, learn about green architecture, view slides on the history of the Medical Campus area and, on a walking tour, learn more about the research being conducted, the sites slated for business development, and the plans for Ellicott Street and the Allen Street extension. 2 - 3:30 p.m. Meet in the lobby of the Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics, 701 Ellicott at Virginia Donation: $10 |
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Saturday
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Offered for the first time! Gold Medal on Foot Join us for an update on Cobblestone District and Commercial Slip developments and for a walk over the Michigan Avenue lift bridge for a close-up of General Mills and other majestic elevators left from our former grain-based economy. While on tour, munch on the General Mills product sample everyone will receive. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Walking tour meets in front of the HSBC Arena at Washington and Perry Donation: $10 |
| Saturday August 11 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Sunday, Aug. 12 | Chippewa and the Victorian, Too Get a firsthand view of a one-time flophouse restored to its original 1850s grandeur complete with adjacent Buffalo in Bloom award-winning gardens. Walk down Chippewa and learn about the street's ties to the Ku Klux Klan, the Communist party, and a local stardom-to-destitution sports hero. This tour offers great examples of demolition by neglect, restoration, and adaptive reuse. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the corner of Elmwood and Chippewa Donation: $10 |
| Sunday August 12 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 4:45 -6:00 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday August 13-17 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday August 17 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Saturday August 18 |
Who Was Who on the Avenue? Stroll with us down Delaware Avenue past the Midway's 1890s Neoclassical row houses and learn how Buffalo movers and shakers lived - and died --; during the Gilded Age. The July tour ends within walking distance of "Taste of Buffalo"; the August tour ends with lunch and a trivia quiz at Founding Fathers Pub on Edward Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the corner of Tracy and Delaware Donation: $10 (lunch not included) Reservation recommended for August 18 tour |
| Saturday August 18 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturday August 18 |
Tour de Neglect Bicycle Tour This ride through Buffalo's east side will examine some of our unique but neglected, and threatened, architectural heritage, including the German Roman Catholic Orphan Home and Sacred Heart and Transfiguration churches. Docent David Torke is a ten-year resident of the neighborhood behind Artspace and author of the fixBuffalo blog. 12 noon - 3 p.m. Meet at the Delta Sonic café, 1264 Main, across from Artspace Donation: $10 Reservation recommended. Bicycle helmets mandatory. Your own water and snacks recommended. Be sure your bicycle is in good working order. |
| Sunday August 19 |
Crime and Scandal Did Grover Cleveland really father a son out of wedlock? Who was hanged before a crowd of thousands in Niagara Square? Where downtown did the KKK have an office? What robbery led to the book/movie "Hide in Plain Sight"? This walking tour visits locations associated with these and other fascinating crimes and scandals in downtown Buffalo. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Niagara Square Donation: $10 |
| Sunday August 19 |
Inside the Central Terminal The Art Deco Central Terminal evokes poignant memories of departure and reunion and dismay over its deterioration under various owners. Since 1997, the nonprofit Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, Buffalo Tours' partner in presenting this tour, has arrested deterioration, restored the tower clock, and conducted regular cleanups and well-attended events on site. See the results and hear further plans. Cosponsored by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation 11 a.m... - 1 p.m. Meet at the Central Terminal on Memorial Drive off Broadway. Donation: $10 |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday y August 20-24 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturday August 25 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturday August 25 |
Offered for the first time! Frank Lloyd Wright in Buffalo Bus Tour On this three and one-half hour bus and walking tour, you'll tour the interiors of Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin and Barton houses, view the Gardener's Cottage and the Davidson and Heath houses, and visit two recent Wright-designed projects: Blue Sky Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery and the boathouse on the Niagara River. 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Meet at Soldiers Place and Bird Avenue Donation: $60 Reservation recommended Minimum registration recommended |
| Sunday August 26 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 1:00 -3:00 p.m. Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday August 27-31 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturday September 1 |
Offered for the first time! Darwin Martin's Downtown See downtown through the eyes of Darwin Martin, who brought Frank Lloyd Wright to Buffalo and remained his benefactor for more than 30 years. Visit where young Martin took accounting classes, where he saw Edwin Booth perform in Hamlet, where he maintained offices. Learn about the architecture and hear what Martin wrote about these and other places with a Wright connection, courtesy of the University Archives, University at Buffalo. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the northwest corner of Main and Seneca Donation: $10 |
| Sunday September 2 |
H. H. Richardson Complex On this tour, we'll walk the perimeter of one of H. H. Richardson's greatest designs, the Buffalo State Hospital (interior tours have been unavailable since 2003). Surrounded by an Olmsted landscape, this largest of Richardson's creations influenced a much emulated architectural style named for the architect, Richardsonian Romanesque. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Forest Avenue Gate at the head of Richmond Avenue Donation: $10 |
| Saturday September 8 |
Offered for the first time! Halting the Madness Join the fight against blight. Hear how a group of determined citizens, called the West Side Community Collaborative, has successfully prevented almost a dozen demolitions and helped turn formerly vacant properties into thriving homes. Harvey Garrett tells the proud tale of the WSCC and its efforts to revitalize a neighborhood, one property at a time. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at Chenango and Rhode Island, in front of Left Bank Restaurant Donation: $10 |
| Sunday September 9 |
Tour de Neglect Bicycle Tour This ride through Buffalo's east side will examine some of our unique but neglected, and threatened, architectural heritage, including the German Roman Catholic Orphan Home and Sacred Heart and Transfiguration churches. Docent David Torke is a ten-year resident of the neighborhood behind Artspace and author of the fixBuffalo blog. 12 noon - 3 p.m. Meet at the Delta Sonic café, 1264 Main, across from Artspace Donation: $10 Reservation recommended. Bicycle helmets mandatory. Your own water and snacks recommended. Be sure your bicycle is in good working order. |
| Saturday September 15 |
Betty Barcode Tells All: The Secrets of Researching Your
Personal Landmark Have you ever wanted to learn more about your Buffalo house but didn't know where to begin? Betty Barcode, aka Cynthia Van Ness, MLS, takes you deep inside the Central Library, where you'll learn the secrets of city directories, the census, Sanborn maps, Common Council proceedings, and other arcane sources used by professional landmark researchers. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at the Washington Street sidewalk ramp to the Central Branch of the Buffalo Erie County Library Donation: $10 Tour limit: 10 persons Reservation recommended |
| Sunday September 16 |
Offered for the first time! Kleinhans Music Hall and Its Surrounding Neighborhood Learn about Frederick Law Olmsted's parkway design and see how it impacted neighborhoods and inspired world-class architecture: the National Historic Landmark, Kleinhans Music Hall. Stroll restored Symphony Circle and Porter Avenue, and view a cluster of typical 1850s-era Buffalo housing, a Second Empire style firehouse, 1880s Queen Anne style residences, and much more. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Frederick Chopin statue in front of Kleinhans Music Hall Donation: $10 |
| Saturday September 22 |
Offered for the first time Larkin, Wright, and a Forgotten Neighborhood Explore the legacy of soap entrepreneur John Larkin and architect Frank Lloyd Wright with an interior tour of the restored Larkin at Exchange Building. View the vestiges of a once thriving neighborhood and the interior of St. Stephen's R. C. Church, and hear about plans for revitalization. Lunch with us afterward at Sharkey's Café at Van Rensselear and Roseville and take a trivia quiz for prizes. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meet at St. Stephen's Church, 193 Elk Street Donation: $10 (lunch not included) Reservation recommended |
| Sunday September 23 |
Offered for the first time! Frank Lloyd Wright in Buffalo Bus Tour On this three and one-half hour bus and walking tour, you'll tour the interiors of Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin and Barton houses, view the Gardener's Cottage and the Davidson and Heath houses, and visit two recent Wright-designed projects: Blue Sky Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery and the boathouse on the Niagara River. Light lunch will be provided 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Meet at Soldiers Place and Bird Avenue Donation: $60 Reservation recommended Minimum registration recommended |
| Saturday September 29 |
Inside Three Mansions on Delaware Avenue What was home-life like for the rich and famous during Buffalo's Gilded Age? Find out on this exclusive interior tour of three of Delaware Avenue's grandest residences: the Pratt, Clement, and Knox mansions, where breathtaking craftsmanship, elaborate entry halls, grand staircases, and sweeping living spaces are the norm. 9 a.m. Meet at the northwest corner of Delaware and North Donation: $20 Reservation recommended |
| Saturday October 6 |
Offered for the first time! City of Light Bus Tour Just over 100 years ago, the eyes of the world were focused on Buffalo, an illustrious city boasting state of the art skyscrapers, electric street lights, opulent wide parkways, and a world's fair, the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. On this tour, you'll visualize that Buffalo through the eyes of the heroine of the historical novel, City of Light. 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway Donation: $40 Reservation recommended Minimum registration recommended |
| Sunday October 14 |
Inside the Central Terminal The Art Deco Central Terminal evokes poignant memories of departure and reunion and dismay over its deterioration under various owners. Since 1997, the nonprofit Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, Buffalo Tours' partner in presenting this tour, has arrested deterioration, restored the tower clock, and conducted regular cleanups and well-attended events on site. See the results and hear further plans. Cosponsored by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet at the Central Terminal on Memorial Drive off Broadway. Donation: $10 |
| Saturday October 20 |
Offered for the first time! The Statler Hotel - Its Past, Present, and Future When built, the 1923 Statler was a model hotel, innovative in design, amenities, and services. Today it's an aging office building scheduled for a face lift, thanks to a $130 million investment by a British developer. Our tour will recall the hotel's illustrious past and view the restoration underway. Lunch (optional) afterward in the Terrace Room overlooking historic Niagara Square. 9 a.m. Meet in Niagara Square at the McKinley Monument Donation: Tour and lunch, $38; tour only $20 Reservation recommended |
| Saturdays Oct. 27 | Offered for the first time! Frank Lloyd Wright in Buffalo Bus Tour On this three and one-half hour bus and walking tour, you'll tour the interiors of Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin and Barton houses, view the Gardener's Cottage and the Davidson and Heath houses, and visit two recent Wright-designed projects: Blue Sky Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery and the boathouse on the Niagara River. 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Meet at Soldiers Place and Bird Avenue Donation: $60 Reservation recommended Minimum registration recommended |
| Saturday October 27 |
Betty Barcode Tells All: The Secrets of Researching Your
Personal Landmark Have you ever wanted to learn more about your Buffalo house but didn't know where to begin? Betty Barcode, aka Cynthia Van Ness, MLS, takes you deep inside the Central Library, where you'll learn the secrets of city directories, the census, Sanborn maps, Common Council proceedings, and other arcane sources used by professional landmark researchers. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at the Washington Street sidewalk ramp to the Central Branch of the Buffalo Erie County Library Donation: $10 Tour limit: 10 persons Reservation recommended |
| Saturday November 10 |
Betty Barcode Tells All: The Secrets of Researching Your
Personal Landmark Have you ever wanted to learn more about your Buffalo house but didn't know where to begin? Betty Barcode, aka Cynthia Van Ness, MLS, takes you deep inside the Central Library, where you'll learn the secrets of city directories, the census, Sanborn maps, Common Council proceedings, and other arcane sources used by professional landmark researchers. 10 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at the Washington Street sidewalk ramp to the Central Branch of the Buffalo Erie County Library Donation: $10 Tour limit: 10 persons Reservation recommended |
| Friday November 23 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturday November 24 |
CANCELED Offered for the first time! Inside a Frank Lloyd Wright House on Tillinghast Join us for a special look inside the Wright-designed Walter Davidson house, called by architectural historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock the finest Wright house in Buffalo. We'll then take a short walking tour of Tillinghast Place, followed by lunch at historic McCarthy's Pub in the Old First Ward and a lecture about the Buffalo River's role in Buffalo's industrialization. 9 a.m. Meet at Tillinghast and Parkside Donation: Tour/lunch/lecture, $32; tour only, $20 Reservation recommended |
| Wednesday December 26 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Thursday December 27 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Friday December 28 |
Downtown Revealed You don't know Buffalo if you don't know the landmarks on this tour by master architects Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn, and E. B. Green. The Guaranty Building, St. Paul's, and the Ellicott Square Building are as magnificent inside as outside. The tour also includes City Hall, Old Post Office, Old County Hall, and lower Pearl Street. 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon Meet at Main Street entrance of the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street Donation: $10 |
| Saturday December 29 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
| Sunday December 30 |
Offered for the first time! Legendary Lincoln Parkway One of the most beautiful avenues in Olmsted's park system, Lincoln Parkway immediately became a magnet for lavish homes by many prominent Buffalonians. John Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company, even bought an entire square block as an estate called Larkland for himself and his children. Join us as we explore this storied neighborhood. 9:30 -10:45 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Statue by the Rose Garden in Delaware Park Donation: $10 |
For more information: Buffalo Tours 2007 or E-mail or 716-852-3300
Buffalo Tours 2007
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo Tours is operated by the Landmark
Society of the Niagara Frontier and the Preservation Coalition of Erie County with major funding from MT
Bank
Page by Chuck LaChiusa