Fall/Winter 2003 Table of Contents

How Should We Celebrate Landmarks?
by Dennis Galucki

Why should we celebrate our landmarks? Because they are worthy of appreciation for both their sake and ours. How should we celebrate our landmarks? By helping to create a culture that makes it easy to appreciate our landmarks. The mission of the Buffalo Architecture Center to the enhance appreciation of the built and natural landmarks in Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier. What does appreciate mean? From Webster's Dictionary...
1. Sensitive awareness; recognition of aesthetic values; a favorable critical estimate; an expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude; 2. Increase in value. I believe both definitions are two sides of the same coin which work to reinforce each other. There are many landmarks in Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier to appreciate and celebrate.

The Buffalo Architecture Center has practiced new ways to enhance appreciation of Buffalo landmarks in its first year as a gallery, lecture platform, and tour center working in collaboration with other like-minded organizations and people. Today's lecture, for instance, is the 22nd this year in our Spring and Fall Noontime Lecture and Tours Series.

In the next two years we hope to expand as a Center by working with other groups to create a culture that appreciates and celebrates its landmarks in the following new ways by creating: a Buffalo Architecture Visitor Center; a local history education program for all ages since "landmarks are the intersection of history and architecture;" signage, lighting, banners and maps combining history, architecture and landmark appreciation; and stories and art work connecting significant people with their ideas and ideals, ie. Darwin Martin & Frank Lloyd Wright; and a system for encouraging landmark patrons to develop in our community!

In effect the mission of the Center is to help create a culture where it is easy to appreciate our built and natural landmarks, history, and architecture. Our community needs this service for the people of Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier and those visitors from beyond our region.