Docent Led Tours

What do Frank Lloyd Wright, Fingy Connors, Tim Russert, Harriet Tubman, Teddy Roosevelt, Frederick Law Olmsted, Louise Blanchard Bethune, Stanford White, and Elbert Hubbard all have in common? They each have a starring role in the stories Buffalo’s docents can’t wait to tell. Hear these and a 1,001 more on a docent-led Buffalo tour.

ALBRIGHT KNOX ART GALLERY

1285 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
(716) 882-8700
www.albrightknox.org
Public tours are led by Gallery-trained docents and are free with Gallery admission. Tours of the Gallery are offered on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 1:30 pm. All tours begin at the Admissions Desk.
$12 adults / $8 students and seniors. Children under 13 and museum members are free.

BUFFALO & ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

25 Nottingham Court
Buffalo, NY 14216
(716) 873-9644
www.buffalohistory.org
This National Historic Landmark was built in 1901 during the Pan-American Exposition and now houses the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. The research library includes a large repository of genealogical information and the museum features exhibits and an extensive collection of artifacts, manuscripts, books and photographs that chronicle the development of the Niagara Frontier.
Tours should be scheduled four weeks in advance. Call the education office at 716-873-9644 ext. 380 for more information.

BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDENS (South Park Conservatory)

2655 South Park Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14218
(716) 827-1584
www.buffalogardens.com
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is a national historic site, education center and tourist destination full of exotic horticulture treasures.
$3 adults, $2 children; plus regular admission.
Please schedule your guided tour at least 1 month in advance.

BUFFALO NIAGARA RIVERKEEPER ECOTOURS

1250 Niagara Street
Buffalo, NY 14213
(716) 852-7483
www.bnriverkeeper.org/ecotours
Every weekend throughout the summer Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER leads you back to nature with an EcoTour. RIVERKEEPER provides a variety of hiking, biking, paddling, and boat tours, throughout Erie and Niagara counties, led by knowledgeable docents. Experience the beauty of the Buffalo and Niagara River ecosystems, watch for birds and wildlife in the heart of the City of Buffalo, and learn about what's happening along the water's edge. RIVERKEEPER offers tours for more experienced hikers, bikers and paddlers as well as family-friendly tours. Family-friendly tours are generally shorter in length, physically less strenuous, and are appropriate for children 5 years old and up. All children must be accompanied by an adult on all tours.
Hike and Bike Tours $10, Paddling Tours $15
For tour information, please call or visit the web site.

BUFFALO TOURS

617 Main Street, Suite M108
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 852-3300
www.buffalotours.org
There's always something new to see in Western New York! Choose from over 30 different tours led throughout the year by highly trained docents. Some of the most popular tours include Queen City Downtown, Delaware Neighborhood Tour of Homes, Weekend Walks in the Morning, Weekend Walks in the Afternoon, Happy Hour Tours which start and end at a local pub, as well as Unique Tours. Unless otherwise noted, tours run between 90 minutes to 2 hours long, and don't require reservations. Simply arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes early to sign in. Buffalo Tours also offers Free Audio Tours. For a self-guided tour day or night, call (716) 844-1111 and enter a four-digit extension to hear descriptions of 50 downtown buildings. Visit Buffalo Tours web site to print out a list of extensions and a map of each building's location. You can even download each tour as an MP3.Want to set up a tour just for your group? They can arrange step-on guides, group tours and school field trips by request.
Unless noted (see BuffaloTours.org), tours are only $10, $5 for students. Group rates are available.
Consult web site for year-long tour schedule and details.

BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER

1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo State College
Buffalo, NY 14222
(716) 878-6011
www.yournewburchfieldpenney.com
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and culture of Western New York, including the world's largest collection of works by Charles E. Burchfield. Exhibitions and programs include art and design from the Buffalo Niagara region, historic and contemporary.
$9 adults, $6 students, free for children 10 and under.
Docent-led group tours are available for groups of all ages. For tour information, contact Mary Kozub.

DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE COMPLEX

125 Jewett Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 856-3858
www.darwinmartinhouse.org
Constructed between 1903 and 1905, Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House exemplifies the "Prairie House" ideal and ranks as one of his finest residential works. Your tour guide will unravel Wright's genius in creating intricate harmonies between his buildings and their landscape, and will narrate the remarkable story of the great architect and his most loyal patron and friend, Darwin D. Martin. All tours of the Complex are docent-led, and begin at the Eleanor and Wilson Greatbatch Pavilion, 125 Jewett Parkway - next door to the Martin House.
Basic Tour - 1 hour
On the Martin House Basic Tour you will visit the main floor of the Martin House (1903-05) as well as the pergola, conservatory and carriage house, as your docent unravels Frank Lloyd Wright's genius in creating intricate harmonies in architecture. The tour will underscore timeless themes of daring, vision and American spirit in Wright's creation of this home - what he called a "domestic symphony" for Darwin D. Martin and his family.
Adults $15, Seniors $13, Students $10
In-Depth Tour - 2 hours
The two-hour In-Depth tour will take you to all the spaces included on the Basic Tour, plus the second floor of the Martin House, the Barton House (1903) and the Gardener's Cottage (1909) with all the same themes narrated by your docent. These tours take a more leisurely pace around the complex so that you can absorb the ambience of the spaces and take time to appreciate the details. Your docent will expand on the Martin/Wright story to provide even greater context to this architectural masterpiece.
Adults $30, Seniors $28, Students $25
Complimentary Tours at 10 a.m. on the Second and Fourth Wednesday of Every Month.
May to October Tour Schedule:
Mon., Wed., Thurs., and Friday: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Saturday: 11am [In-depth], 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm [In-depth], 2pm, 2:30pm
Sunday: 12:30pm [In-depth], 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm

FOREST LAWN CEMETERY & GARDEN MAUSOLEUMS

1411 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
(716) 885-1600
www.forest-lawn.com
Breathtaking 269-acre cemetery designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, founded in 1849. Outstanding examples of funerary art including the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Blue Sky Mausoleum. On the State and National registers of historic places. Also features the final resting sites of several famous African Americans including the gravesites of Mary B. Talbert and Reverend J. Edward Nash. President Millard Fillmore and Seneca Nation orator Red Jacket are also buried here.
Guided tours in summer. Winter 7:30am-5pm; Summer 7:30am-7pm. Office hours M-SA 8:30am-4:30pm, SU 10am-4pm. Open holidays.

FORGOTTEN BUFFALO TOURS

(716) 883-5211
www.forgottenbuffalo.com
The region's authority on unique landmarks, classic taverns, old world neighborhoods and "Nickel City" oddities presents Buffalo's original "Off The Beaten Track" tours. Tours allow "urban explorers" to eat, drink and laugh through history! Lead by the host of Off Beat Cinema, each tour will give you a sense why Buffalo Niagara is one of the most unique urban communities in the world.
$45 per person
Consult web site for tour schedule.

GRAYCLIFF ESTATE

6472 Old Lake Shore Road
Derby, NY 14047
(716) 947-9217
www.graycliff.bfn.org
Docent-Led Standard Tours - 1.25 hours
Admission: $15 Students: $10
Master Docent-Led Graycliff In-Depth Tour - 2 hours
Explore areas of the estate not included on standard tours. Learn about the evolution of Wright’s plans for Graycliff during its design in the mid 1920s; Wright’s architecture, during the development of his mid-career natural or organic style. For those who seek a more thorough understanding of Graycliff and Wright’s architecture.
Admission: $30 Students: $25
Master Architectural Tours - 3 hours
Explore all areas of Graycliff, and get a “behind the scenes” view. Learn about Wright’s special design for Graycliff roofs, his solution to fire hazards, his unique approach to gutter and drainage systems, and other aspects of Wright’s design unique to Graycliff. Discover how Graycliff’s design compares and contrasts with those of other earlier and later Wright designs. This is a tour for the serious architecture, design and/or Wright buff! Led Patrick Mahoney, AIA, Vice President of the Graycliff Conservancy and Wright expert, or other Board members.
Admission: $40 Students $30
Reservations are necessary for all tours. Please call to reserve.

OPEN-AIR AUTOBUS OF BUFFALO

(716) 854-3749
www.openairbuffalo.org
Open air bus tours with 360 degree views of historical and architectural attractions. Campaign for Greater Buffalo offers neighborhood walking and bus tours. Admission: $10-$25
Scheduled and group tours by appointment. Consult website for schedule.

ROYCROFT CAMPUS CORPORATION

31 South Grove Street
East Aurora, NY 14052
(716) 655-0261
www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com
Educational Guided Tours are rich with facts and fascinating stories about the past, present and future of this authentic Arts and Crafts community.
$10
Regularly scheduled guided walking tours of the Roycroft Campus are available June through October every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday at 12:30 and 2:30pm.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT INAUGURAL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

641 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 884-0095
www.TRsite.org
See where a new vision of America came to power when Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency. The tour includes three restored rooms, video and audio, and interactive activities.
$10 adults; $7 seniors/students; $5 children 6-18; children under 5 FREE; $25 family
Tours scheduled hourly, beginning at 9:30 a.m. weekdays and 12:30 p.m. weekends. Last tour at 3:30 p.m. Closed on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.