Buffalo New York
The cityscape where the Niagara River flows into Lake Erie
In the gallery at Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Boat races at Canalside
Learning the history of jazz at the Colored Musicians Club
The Graycliff estate and grounds
An artisan class at the Roycroft campus
Bustling activity on the water outside the RiverWorks entertainment complex
Enjoying interactive exhibits for the whole family at The Buffalo History Museum
Ice skating at Canalside on the downtown waterfront
Enjoying craft beers with friends at Resurgence Brewing Company
- Major Airports:
- Buffalo Niagara (BUF)
- States:
- New York
Historic waterfront city revitalizes itself
Prominent History
There are many ways to experience Buffalo’s rich history. Walk where President Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. Tour the former home of an American industrial magnate at Frank Lloyd Wright’s sprawling Martin House Complex. Step back in time to the golden age of jazz at the Colored Musicians Club and Museum, take a Buffalo River History Cruise to see one of the world’s largest collections of grain elevators up close, or learn the story of the city at the Buffalo History Museum.
High Culture
Buffalo’s artistic and architectural legacy is evident throughout its city blocks. Visit the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to see a “who’s-who” of modern masters on display, including Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Stop at the Burchfield Penney Art Center – devoted to representing the work of Western New York artists – and peruse its 30 annual exhibitions. There are multiple ways to tour the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Graycliff estate (“The Jewel on the Lake”) uncovering everything from the site’s historic landscape to its interior. Visit Roycroft Campus – a peaceful reformist community of artists – and see the buildings as well as past and current works of authentic Arts and Crafts artists. Step back in time at the palatial, restored Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the anchor of Buffalo’s Theater District, catching a Broadway show while there. When it comes to architecture, downtown does not disappoint: City Hall is a fantastic example of an Art Deco building, while several other structures here reflect the best in period architecture.
Revitalized Fun
Recently, Buffalo has entered a new chapter: whole neighborhoods have been revitalized and former industrial areas repurposed as parks, craft breweries and spaces for food truck rodeos and weekly concerts. Green space and bike trails line the city’s lakefront, and new hotels, restaurants and hundreds of weekly events populate Canalside, Buffalo’s inner harbor. Business districts like Elmwood Village, Allentown and Hertel Avenue are bustling with boutiques, restaurants and nightlife options. Families will have plenty of fun at the Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo Museum of Science and Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, while a natural wonder of the world, Niagara Falls, is just a short drive away. Hikers and day-trippers can find great outdoor adventures along the Niagara Gorge and Zoar Valley.
Fun Fact
Buffalo-style Chicken wings were first served at the Anchor Bar on Main Street in 1964.
Photo: KC Kratt
Theodore Roosevelt was one of the only presidents to take the oath of office outside the nation’s capital. He did so in Buffalo in 1901; retrace his steps at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.
Photo: Nancy J. Parisi
Buffalo is one of only a handful of cities in the United States to boast over a half-dozen designs by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Photo: Rhea Anna