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Walking Tours

The Allentown and Elmwood Amble:
A Walk through scenic and historic neighborhoods

The Allentown and Elmwood Amble will take you from the corner of Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street in downtown Buffalo into the heart of one of the first and largest residential historic districts in the United States. You’ll pass Babeville, the new home of Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records, the Wilcox Mansion, site of Teddy Roosevelt’s inauguration, the venerable Allendale Theatre, the First Presbyterian Church, the National Historic Landmark Kleinhans Music Hall, Frederick Law Olmsted’s Symphony Circle and a vast array of Victorian, Italianate and Queen Anne style homes. Occupying a portion of the city that was once the farm of Lewis Allen, Allentown today is known for its antique stores, quirky streets, distinctive architecture and eclectic bars and restaurants. The lower Elmwood Village also offers the charm and appeal of historic streets and distinctive architecture.

The Allentown and Elmwood Amble is 4.5 miles in length and should take approximately 2 hours.

Starting Out: The tour begins at the corner of Delaware and Chippewa. Brace yourself for the walk ahead with a cup of coffee at Spot Coffee or Starbucks before heading north on Delaware Avenue. The first notable landmark you’ll encounter is the former Delaware Asbury Methodist Church, now known as Babeville. Folk-rock recording artist Ani DiFranco saved the landmark from the wrecking ball and has made it the home of her Righteous Babe Records. Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center shares the building with RBR and regularly presents exhibits, film screenings and musical performances by the most adventurous and provocative artists working today.

Continuing north on Delaware you’ll cross Tupper Street and immediately come upon Trinity Church. Trinity is known for its breathtaking collection of stained glass windows. It is one of only two places in the world where the work of John LaFarge and Louis Comfort Tiffany, two world-renowned art glass pioneers, sit side by side. Trinity Church is home to five Tiffany windows and ten superb works by LaFarge. The church happily welcomes visitors who come to admire its legendary windows.

As you exit Trinity Church, you’ll note two prepossessing buildings on the other side of Delaware Avenue. The first is the Buffalo Club, founded by former President Millard Fillmore and 92 like-minded gentlemen in 1867. It has served as a gathering spot for Buffalo’s movers and shakers ever since. Immediately north of the Buffalo Club, you’ll notice the Mansion on Delaware Avenue, a boutique hotel that recently received a Zagat Award as one of the best small hotels in America. After standing vacant for more than 20 years, the building was restored and returned to use as a hotel in 2002.  Legend has it that at some point in its long history, the building now known as the Mansion was the site of a notorious bordello that numbered among its clients the distinguished gentlemen of the Buffalo Club.

One block north on Delaware, turn right onto Virginia Street. You’ll pass a variety of notable 19th century residences before turning left onto North Pearl Street. North Pearl is one of the finest examples of a Victorian residential street left in Buffalo. The shaded street offers passersby a charming ambience in which it is nearly possible to hear the clatter of carriage wheels in the alley behind. One of the main attractions of Buffalo’s annual Garden Walk, North Pearl residents clearly pride themselves on cultivating their modestly-sized urban gardens.

At Allen Street, go left to continue your walk down what was once a well-trod cow path belonging to farmer Lewis Allen. You’ll find shops selling everything from dresses to furniture to books. Plan to stroll slowly along this stretch of the walk since the window-shopping is superb. If hunger should hit, you’ll find numerous dining options ranging from Fiddleheads to K. Gallagher’s, Colter Bay, La Tee Da, Allen Street Hardware and more. (Insider’s tip: Gabriel’s Gate at 145 Allen is a place many locals swear by when asked to name Buffalo’s best chicken wings.)

After crossing Elmwood Avenue, you’ll pass the Allendale Theatre. Built in 1913, the theater was restored in 1999 and is now home to the Theatre of Youth, a critically acclaimed company that entertains thousands of parents and their children every year. Immediately across the street is Rust Belt Books at 202 Allen. Here you’ll find a cornucopia of used books, ranging from classic literature to romance novels and contemporary fiction. Stop in and browse awhile.

Moving west on Allen, turn right on College Street before turning left into the delightful Arlington Park. This charming Victorian-era square dates from 1866 and is surrounded by Italianate and Second Empire houses. Linger for a moment in the peace and quiet of this urban sanctuary, secluded from the bustle of the nearby streets.

Leaving the square from its northwest corner, go a half black north and turn left onto North Street. A few steps more and you have entered Frederick Law Olmsted’s Symphony Circle, so called due to the presence of Kleinhans Music Hall on the circle’s southwest corner. Symphony Circle is part of the visionary parks and parkways system designed by Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux for Buffalo in the second half of the 19th century. Walk along the left edge of the circle to get a better look at Kleinhans, a National Historic Landmark designed by the renowned father and son team of Eliel and Eero Saarinen from 1938-1940. This modernist masterpiece is home to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Buffalo Chamber Music Society. For much of the year, the reflecting pool at the building’s eastern end offers one of the great urban vistas in Buffalo, creating a mirror for the towering and elegant First Presbyterian Church that lies across Pennsylvania Street. A great photo op, without a doubt.

Cross Porter Avenue and move around Symphony Circle’s northwest edge. Admire the lovely Birge Mansion on the opposite corner. Built in 1897 for George Birge, the founder of the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company, the Georgian style mansion was modeled on the lines of a villa Mr. Birge had seen on the Riviera.

Two blocks north on Richmond Avenue, turn left on Summer Street into what is known as the “Cottage District,” a collection of quaint brick cottages dating from as early as the 1850s. “Little Summer” as it is sometimes called is another highlight of the Garden Walk held every summer on the last weekend of July.

Turn right on York Streetand return to Richmond. Go left on Richmond, noting the presence across the street of the former home of Temple Beth El, a synagogue dating from the latter half of the 19th century. One block north, turn right onto Bryant Street. At the corner of Bryant and Ashland Avenue, you’ll pass by Trattoria Aroma, a highly regarded Italian restaurant known for al fresco dining on its inviting veranda in summertime.

Continuing east on Bryant, cross Elmwood before turning right onto Oakland Place, a charming enclave of truly gracious and impressive homes representing a wide variety of architectural styles. This street is without a doubt one of Buffalo’s treasures, hidden in plain sight. A stroll down this leafy lane is a step back to a bygone America that prized craftsmanship, quality and solidity.

Turn left on Summer Street for one block before making another left onto Delaware Avenue and “Millionaire’s Row.” This section of Buffalo’s grand 19th century boulevard was once home to the city’s wealthy businessmen, merchants and entrepreneurs. The homes they constructed were symbols of the city’s rising fortunes and the status their owners had attained in the then burgeoning metropolis. Moving north along the avenue you’ll pass the Clement Mansion designed by Buffalo’s foremost architect, E.B. Green. Next door, stands the Knox Mansion, the work of the renowned C.P.H. Gilbert, best known for his work along Fifth Avenue in New York City. Directly across the street from these monuments to 19th century commerce stands the counterpoint of Temple Beth Zion, an uncompromising modernist statement built in the mid-1960s that’s highlighted by two enormous stained glass windows designed by Ben Shahn. Tours are available by appointment and include the Cofeld Judaic Museum.

Moving north on Delaware, stop to admire the grandeur of the Campanile, one of Buffalo’s finest apartment buildings, at the corner of Bryant Street. Dating from 1929, the building features Italian Renaissance Revival details.

Proceed down Bryant one block to Linwood Avenue. Turn right on Linwood to explore another wonderful neighborhood. Consisting of Vernacular, Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Stick, Shingle, Queen Ann, and Georgian and Colonial Revival style homes, Linwood is yet another architecture lover’s tour de force. (Insider’s hint: The Beau Fleuve Bed & Breakfast at 242 Linwood offer visitors warm and inviting accommodations.)

Proceed south on Linwood before turning right on North Street. At Delaware Avenue turn left to return downtown. On your left you’ll pass the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. It was here that Teddy Roosevelt took the oath of office as the 26th President of the United States after the assassination of William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. Although currently closed for an extension restoration, the former Wilcox Mansion will re-open for tours in 2009.

Returning to our starting point at Delaware and Chippewa, you’ll pass the venerable 20th Century Club at 595 Delaware Avenue. Designed by Buffalo’s Green and Wicks, the 20th Century Club remains an exclusive social club of considerable old Buffalo charm.

Between 471-499 Delaware Avenue stands the Midway, a group of row houses that, while common in many Eastern cities, are rare in Western New York.

If you’re famished after your long walk, stop in at the Stillwater, a well-reviewed restaurant that serves lunch and dinner in beautiful surroundings smack in the middle of the Midway. If something a little less upscale is more to your liking try Chris’s New York Sandwich Company at 395 Delaware.

Chippewa Street – and the end of your walk – lies two blocks south of this location. To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

Driving Tours

Looking for a day of fun and adventure?

The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau has taken the guesswork out of planning your day's itinerary. Just pick one of our driving tours listed and head out on the highway.

You'll find history, mystery and beauty on the highways and byways of Buffalo Niagara.

GATEWAY TO THE WEST: AN ERIE CANAL TOUR

Start from the six-acre Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park on Buffalo's waterfront, site of the original terminus of the Erie Canal. The Park features the missile cruiser USS Little Rock, the destroyer USS The Sullivans, and World War II submarine USS Croaker, along with several land-based exhibits. Then walk over to see the ruins and foundations of the original buildings on the Erie Canal, the catalyst responsible for the westward expansion and the rise of the industrial revolution in the United States. View the $64 million Erie Canal reclamation project currently underway which includes returning water to the original Commercial Slip, installing a replica bowstring bridge and further unearthing of Erie Canal-era building foundations.

Take I-190 north from Buffalo to the River Road exit, turn right and follow River Road to Main Street parking in Tonawanda to see the Benjamin Long Homestead (24 East Niagara Street), an 1829 Pennsylvania Dutch style residence built of hand-hewn black walnut walls and white oak beams.

From the Homestead, take the Webster Street Bridge to cross the Erie Canal and follow Webster north for five traffic signals to Thompson Street. Turn right on Thompson, right on Payne Avenue to Sweeney Street. Left on Sweeney leads you to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum (180 Thompson Street). Here an historic 1916 carousel offers rides and wood carvers demonstrate their art in the creation of new carousel animals.

From the Carrousel Museum, turn left onto Sweeney Street and follow the Erie Canal to Robinson Road. Turn right and follow to Niagara Falls Boulevard. Turn left (Route 62) and follow to Tonawanda Creek Road. A right will take you to the Amherst Museum. This 35-acre historic park has restored 19th century buildings and an array of indoor exhibits including the children's Discovery Room and Western New York Aviation Gallery.

Leaving the Amherst Museum continue east on Tonawanda Creek Road to Transit Road (Route 78) and turn left to Lockport. A major stopping point on the Erie Canal, Lockport is the site of the original "Famous Five" stair locks, an engineering marvel hewn out of rock to raise canal boats 56 feet up the Niagara Escarpment (at Ontario Street). While there, take in a narrated ride on a Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises' tour boat along the Erie Canal and through the locks. Located at the base of the flight of locks the Lockport Canal Museum recounts the history of the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal Discovery Center down the street (24 Church Street) allows visitors to discover the important role that Lockport played in the Erie Canal. Visitors can also participate in several hands-on activities, observe additional canal displays and view a working replica of a canal lock.

Driving out of Lockport, take Route 31 east to Middleport. This quaint village boasts a fine cobblestone church plus several enticing restaurants and shops. In Medina, board the Niagara & Western New York Railroad Co. excursion, a narrated sightseeing tour along the old Erie Canal (June - September). From Medina, take Route 31E east to Albion, turn left onto Route 98 north and continue to the Cobblestone Museum Complex at Rts. 98 and 104. Seven historic buildings feature cobblestone masonry from the 1800s including a church, house, one-room school and blacksmith, print and harness shops.

Leave the Cobblestone museum driving south on Route 98 to the NYS Thruway (I-90) and take the Thruway back to Buffalo. To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

BUILT TO LAST: BUFFALO ARCHITECTURE TOUR

Buffalo is an internationally renowned city of architecture treasures. In fact, Buffalo is one of only two cities that can boast of buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, and H.H. Richardson, the architects commonly considered America's greatest, and a parks and parkway system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture.

Begin your tour of Buffalo's architecture at the Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center at the Market Arcade (617 Main Street, Buffalo). From the Arcade's rear entrance on Washington Street proceed to Chippewa Street and turn right. Notice the terra cotta façade of the Calumet Building at the corner of Franklin. Turn left on Delaware to Niagara Square. Pass the McKinley Monument, built to honor the memory of President William McKinley who was assassinated in Buffalo at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. Take in the Art Deco grandeur of Buffalo's City Hall. Continue around the Square to Delaware and on to Church Street. Go left. At Pearl Street you'll pass Louis Sullivan's Guaranty Building and Richard Upjohn's St. Paul's Cathedral before crossing the light-rail tracks of Main Street. On your right you'll see the Ellicott Square Building. At Ellicott Street you'll pass the Old Post Office, now the City Campus of Erie Community College.

Continue on South Division Street to Elm. Take a left and proceed north to Goodell Street. Take a left and proceed to Franklin Street past the Cyclorama Building. Take a right toward the Allentown district and notice the many beautifully restored homes from the late 19th century. At North Street take a left. At the corner of North and Delaware you'll pass by the Jacobs Executive Development Center (the former Williams-Butler Mansion) designed by the legendary firm of McKim, Mead and White and Mayfair Lane, designed by Buffalo's E.B. Green. When you reach Symphony Circle at the corner of North and Richmond notice the Birge Mansion on your right and the sleek modern architecture of Kleinhans Music Hall, designed by the renowned father and son collaborators, Eliel and Eero Saarinen.

Go through the intersection and make a left into the Music Hall parking lot. Return on North Street to Delaware Avenue. Turn left and take in the city's "Millionaire's Row," a breathtaking collection of turn-of-the-century homes. Continue north on Delaware to West Delavan Avenue. Turn right into Forest Lawn Cemetery. Drive or stroll through the beautiful grounds and visit the gravesite of President Millard Fillmore.

When you leave the cemetery, go straight onto West Delavan Avenue. Turn right onto Chapin Parkway and take in another stretch of spectacular residences. At Soldier's Circle bear right onto Lincoln Parkway. At Forest Avenue make a left and proceed past Elmwood Avenue to the light at Richmond Avenue. Take a right into the traffic circle for a view of H.H. Richardson's Buffalo Psychiatric Center, a Romanesque monument that towers over the city's West Side. Return on Forest Avenue to Elmwood Avenue. Take a left on Elmwood Avenue and pass the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Take a right on Nottingham Terrace and pass the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. Follow Nottingham to Amherst Street, turn right onto Amherst. Take a right on Parkside and pass the Buffalo Zoo. At Jewett Parkway go left two blocks to Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House Complex, the most extensive residential complex Wright ever designed. To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

HISTORY, MYSTERY & BEAUTY: BUFFALO NIAGARA HERITAGE TRAIL NORTH

From downtown Buffalo go north on the I-190 and proceed to the Peace Bridge exit. Cross the Peace Bridge to Fort Erie, Ontario. After clearing Customs, turn right onto Goderich Street and go two blocks to Queen Street, turn right and proceed three blocks to the Niagara Parkway, one of the world’s great scenic drives. Take a left on the Parkway and head north towards Niagara Falls.

Continue into the city of Niagara Falls. Stop and take a cruise on the Maid of the Mist, for an up close view of the thundering cataract. Continue northward on your journey and you’ll come across one of the highlights of any trip along the Parkway – the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and the Butterfly Conservatory.

Continuing north on the Parkway, you’ll pass through Queenston with its distinctive memorial to General Sir Isaac Brock, a British hero of the War of 1812, and by vineyards and fruit stands selling locally-grown produce, jams, honey and baked goods. As you prepare to enter the quaint and historic village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, you’ll pass the Fort George National Historic Site, a restored British fort.

From Niagara-on-the-Lake return to New York State via the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge and head north along the Robert Moses Parkway to one of the jewels of the Great Lakes – Old Fort Niagara. Old Fort Niagara includes the oldest building on the Great Lakes and is a National Historic Landmark and New York State Historic Site.

Continue on to the final leg of the Trail along Route 18F North to Route 18 East along Lake Ontario through the pleasant lakeside towns of Wilson and Olcott. At Olcott, turn right (south) on Route 78 (Lockport-Olcott Road). Then turn right onto Wilson-Burt Road. The second left is McClew Road. At 2402 McClew Road you’ll find Murphy Orchards, a privately-owned fruit farm that is believed to have been an Underground Railroad safe house.

From Murphy Orchards, turn right onto McClew Road. At the end of the road turn left onto Ide Road. At the second right proceed onto Route 78. Go through Newfane to Lockport. At a fork in the road, bear left and pass over the Canal. Turn right onto Market Street and proceed to the foot of the hill. Stop at the Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises (210 Market Street) for the opportunity to travel “15 miles on the Erie Canal” the way 19th century settlers moving west did. This narrated cruise along the Old Erie Canal takes a visitor along historic sites and through five original 1825 locks. Then continue down the street to the Erie Canal Discovery Center (24 Church Street), which allows visitors to discover the important role that Lockport played in the Erie Canal. Visitors can also participate in several hands-on activities, observe additional canal displays and view a working replica of a canal lock.

From the Lockport Locks, proceed on Market Street. Make a right on Main Street and then a left on Route 78. Go to Millersport Highway (Route 263). Proceed to I-990 South to I-290 East to I-90 West to Route 33 West to downtown Buffalo.

Proper documentation is required to cross the Canadian/US border. To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

HISTORY, MYSTERY & BEAUTY: BUFFALO NIAGARA HERITAGE TRAIL SOUTH

Begin your trip at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery at 1285 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. The Albright-Knox has been called “one of the world’s top international surveys of modern and contemporary painting and sculpture.”

Across the street from the Albright-Knox at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center (1300 Elmwood Avenue) you’ll find an outstanding collection of regional art built around the work of the great American watercolorist Charles Burchfield, best known for his romantic, often fantastic depictions of nature.

Just around the corner at 400 Forest Avenue, take in the soaring red Medina sandstone towers of H.H. Richardson’s Buffalo Psychiatric Center, a Romanesque monument that presides over the city’s West Side.

At the corner of Forest and Elmwood, go left and retrace your steps past the Albright-Knox and Burchfield-Penney. Take a right on Nottingham Terrace. Pass the Grecian columns of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. This is the only building remaining from Buffalo’s 1901 Pan-American Exposition. Continue on Nottingham alongside the Meadow of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, the centerpiece of his Buffalo parks system.

At Amherst Street, go right two blocks to Parkside Avenue, then right two blocks to Jewett Parkway. Proceed left on Jewett two blocks to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House Complex. Currently undergoing an extensive renovation, the estate consists of the Martin House, the George Barton House and a modest two-story cottage known as the Gardener’s Cottage.

From Darwin and Isabelle Martin’s city house go south to their country getaway, Graycliff Estate, also designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Take a left on Parkside Avenue to the Scajaquada Expressway (Route 198) West. Take I-190 South to the New York State Thruway (I-90) West. Proceed to Exit 57 (Hamburg) to Route 75 North. Take a left onto Route 20 West. Proceed five miles and go right on South Creek Road. Follow South Creek to its end and follow the Graycliff signs. Situated on a 70-foot cliff overlooking Lake Erie in Derby, Graycliff served as Darwin and Isabelle Martin’s summer retreat from 1928 through the mid-‘40s.

From Graycliff, return to the New York State Thruway and go west to Exit 60 at Westfield. Take Route 394 east to Mayville and on to the Chautauqua Institution. Founded in 1874, Chautauqua is a National Historic Landmark and vibrant summer community.

From Chautauqua, continue east on Route 394 to Route 17/86. Use Jamestown exit 12, following Route 60 south. In Jamestown, turn left on Buffalo Street, left at Falconer Street, and left on Curtis Street. At 311 Curtis Street you’ll find the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Enjoy wildlife art and photography exhibitions or view the collection of the 20th century’s great naturalist and ornithologist, Dr. Roger Tory Peterson.

From Jamestown, return to Route 17/86 and go east to Salamanca. At Salamanca, head north on Route 219 through a landscape of lovely rolling hills and farms to the charming village of Ellicottville and its multi-block historic district.

Leaving Ellicottville, head east on Route 242. Turn left on Route 16 and head north to the lovely village of East Aurora, home to the National Historic Landmark Roycroft Inn and the Roycroft Copper Shop. The Roycroft Arts and Crafts Community was founded by writer-philosopher Elbert Hubbard in 1895 as a self-contained community, which supported hundreds of craftspeople. You’ll also find Vidler’s 5 and 10, an old-fashioned five and dime, an ice cream shop, a toy store and much more along charming Main Street.

To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

FROM PEDALS TO PETALS: A GARDENS AND MUSEUMS TOUR

From downtown Buffalo, go south on the New York State Thruway (I-190) to I-90 West. Take the Route 219 exit to Milestrip Road. Go east on Milestrip before taking a right on North Buffalo Road (Route 277) where you will begin your tour of the region's flower gardens and transportation museums with a stop at the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum (3943 North Buffalo Road, Orchard Park), the largest all-bicycle museum in the world.

From the museum, proceed south on Route 277 into the Village of Orchard Park. Take a right on W. Quaker St. (Route 20A) to South Park Avenue (Route 62). Take a right (north) on Route 62 into South Buffalo and stop at the Botanical Gardens of Buffalo & Erie County (2655 South Park Avenue). Here you'll find three historic attractions in one: Frederick Law Olmsted's South Park, the 1894 tri-domed glass conservatory building, and the Victorian-style gardens, both inside and out.

After completing your tour of the Botanical Gardens turn left (north) onto South Park Avenue (Route 62) and proceed into downtown Buffalo. Turn right onto Michigan Avenue and go eight blocks to the corner of Seneca Street. Here you'll find the Buffalo Transportation/Pierce-Arrow Museum (263 Michigan Avenue), dedicated to the preservation of Western New York-made automobiles, motorcycles and carriages, including Pierce-Arrows and Thomas Flyers.

Proceed three blocks north on Michigan Avenue to North Division Street. Take a left onto North Division and proceed across the light rail tracks of Main Street. Go four blocks to Lower Terrace. Take a left here, taking care not to make the left onto the Skyway entrance. Turn right onto Erie Street and proceed to the Erie Canal Harbor, home to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park and the Erie Basin Marina Gardens, one of 20 test gardens throughout the United States.

From here, follow Erie Street to the New York State Thruway (I-190) North to Niagara Falls and the Niagara Aerospace Museum, 345 Third Street. Take I-190 north across the two branches of the Niagara River and across Grand Island. Follow the signs to the Robert Moses Parkway to downtown Niagara Falls, New York (a 25 minute drive). Take the Daly Boulevard exit and turn left onto Rainbow Boulevard. Proceed four blocks to Third Street and take a right to 345 Third Street. The Museum features a collection of aviation memorabilia and artifacts from the early days of aviation. If time allows, stop at Niagara Reservation State Park for a view of the Falls.

From the Aerospace Museum, proceed north on Third Street to Main Street (Route 104 East) going toward Lewiston. Turn right on College Avenue (Route 31) to Lockport (a 20 minute drive). In Lockport, turn right onto Transit Road (Route 78) and proceed south to the third traffic light, at Willow Street. Make a left onto Willow and proceed three blocks to stop sign at Locust Street. Turn right onto Locust. Stop at the Kenan Center (433 Locust Street), and tour the 19th century Victorian mansion and explore the 25-acre grounds.

From Lockport, continue south on Route 78 to Millersport Highway (Route 263). Proceed to I-990 South to I-290 East to I-90 West to Route 33 West to downtown Buffalo. To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

NIAGARA RIVER MAGIC TOUR

Travel to Niagara Falls from Main and Chippewa in Downtown Buffalo heading west on Chippewa, which becomes Georgia Street. Turn right onto Niagara Street and get onto the New York State Thruway at Niagara and Virginia Streets. Head north on the I-190 to the Robert Moses Parkway (exit 21) for approximately 15 miles toward the Niagara Reservation State Park . Head north and follow the signs to the State Park where you will begin your tour.

Start at Niagara Reservation State Park, on Goat Island. Here you will have access to Three Sisters Islands and Luna Island, bringing you within an arm's length of the mighty Upper Rapids and the majestic Falls themselves. Terrapin Point will give you a breathtaking view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Take a spectacular guided trip to the base of the Falls on the Cave of the Winds tour. Take a stroll, or ride the New York State Park Viewmobile to the New York State Park Visitors Center.

Get another outstanding view of the Falls from the New York State Observation Tower at Prospect Point. Take the elevator down into the Niagara River Gorge, and take the ride of your life on the Maid of the Mist, a half-hour boat ride past the American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls. Once back on shore, visit the Schoelkopf Geological Museum, where you will learn about the geological history of Niagara and its gorge.

Take the foot bridge over the Robert Moses Parkway, and within minutes, you are at the Aquarium of Niagara, the nation's first inland oceanarium. This family fun spot enables you to come face to face with many creatures of the deep, from sharks to sea lions, as well as rare Peruvian penguins. When you are finished at the Aquarium, follow Lewiston Road north to the Niagara Power Project Visitor's Center & Fishing Platform. You'll find hands-on displays, another breathtaking view of the gorge, and access to a fishing platform that enables you to fish for salmon, trout, walleye, and bass.

From here, take a short drive to the adjacent Niagara University campus, where you can browse through 20th century and contemporary art at the Castellani Art Museum. The museum also features Freedom Crossing, the Underground Railroad Regional Interpretive Center. Hop on the Robert Moses Parkway, north to Historic Lewiston and Artpark. Here you will find many unique shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Artpark (located at the foot of South 4th St.) is a cultural center where 200 acres are dedicated to the visual and performing arts. Enjoy a summer musical or dance performance, or take part in the various workshops and hands-on activities for adults and children. After a full day, head back to Buffalo for dinner.

To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

HERE COMES THE FUN: A TOUR FOR FAMILIES

Start your day at the Buffalo Zoo, (300 Parkside Avenue, North Buffalo) 23 acres of exotic and domestic animals, including a thriving gorilla troop, Indian rhinoceros, Asian elephants and the interactive World of Wildlife Center. During the summer months, Zoo guests have the opportunity for interactive fun at the Giraffe Feeding Station, WILD Place and Lorikeet Landing.

From the zoo parking lot, go right on Parkside Avenue to the Scajaquada Expressway (Route 198) West. Take Route 198 West to I-190 North. Follow I-190 to River Road (last exit before the Grand Island Bridge). Follow River Road to Thompson Street in North Tonawanda to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum at 180 Thompson Street. This is the only museum in the world housed in a carousel factory building. The building and the 1916 carousel are listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Exhibits include two carousels and numerous hand-carved carousel characters.

Go back on to River Road to I-190 North. Proceed over the Grand Island Bridge to the Whitehaven Road exit. Go right on Whitehaven to Grand Island Boulevard. Take a left to 2400 Grand Island Boulevard and Martin's Fantasy Island. Experience more than 100 rides, shows and attractions in a clean, park-like setting. The Wild West Shoot-out never fails to enthrall the children in the crowd.

Return to I-190 North and proceed across Grand Island to Lewiston and the Niagara Power Project Power Vista. Get off at Exit 25B and follow the signs to Route 104 West (Lewiston Road). At the Power Vista (5777 Lewiston Road) you'll find 50 interactive exhibits about hydroelectricity and the historic role it has played in Niagara. Visit the Electric Lab where you can learn about the basics of electricity and tour a replica of a Victorian-era house that combines period architecture with information on energy efficiency and safety. A large terrain map demonstrates how Niagara River water is diverted to generate electricity. The Observation Deck provides visitors with a birds-eye view of the Gorge.

Return north on Lewiston Road to I-190 North. Follow the signs to Canada and the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. After clearing Canadian Customs (be sure to bring birth certificates or passports) take an immediate right and then another right onto the Niagara Parkway. Go south along the Niagara River Gorge to the Butterfly Conservatory. The Butterfly Conservatory is home to one of North America's largest collections of free flying butterflies. This year-round exhibit showcases a wide variety of butterflies from around the world living in a lush, rain forest-like environment.

Take the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge back to the United States and follow the signs to the Robert Moses Parkway North. Follow the Parkway to Youngstown and Old Fort Niagara. Step back in time more than 300 years to a day when England and France vied for control of North America. Costumed reenactors bring history to life on the battlements of the oldest structure on the Great Lakes. If time allows, return to Lewiston for a ride on the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours. Take the Robert Moses Parkway South to I-190 South to return to Buffalo.

To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

WAR OF 1812 TOUR

Sites for this historic tour are found on both the Canadian and American sides of the border. Because you will be traveling across an international border make sure you have proof of citizenship.

From Buffalo, take the Peace Bridge to Old Fort Erie, in Fort Erie, Ontario. The Niagara Parks Commission operates the reconstruction of the fort which was the site of a critical battle in the War of 1812. An on-site museum features military exhibits; costumed reenactors provide tours and perform military drills.

Follow scenic Niagara Parkway north to Chippewa, site of another critical battle, where the grey-clad troops of General Winfield Scott overcame the British and the legend of West Point's Long Grey Line was born. Continue along Niagara Parkway to Lundy's Lane, site of the fiercest and bloodiest engagement of the War of 1812, where several museums, historic sites, and the Laura Secord Burial Ground may be found.

Continuing north on Niagara Parkway, stop at lovely Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario; then continue north to Brock's Monument in Queenston. Standing on the escarpment near where the falls began 12,000 years ago, the monument commemorates the death of British hero General Sir Isaac Brock, killed on this site during the Battle of Queenston Heights. An observation platform provides spectacular views of the gorge and surrounding country.

Furthest north on the Parkway is Niagara-on-the-Lake, a picturesque community where a major battle was fought when the United States invaded Canada in 1812. Today the town hosts the Shaw Festival from May to November. As you drive north through the town, visit Fort Mississaugua, Niagara Historical Museum, and Fort George. Then return south, still on Niagara Parkway and stop at the Laura Secord Homestead, home of the famous War of 1812 heroine. Visit the McFarland House, used as a hospital during that war, the building has been refurbished in the style of 1800-1848.

Proceed south on Niagara Parkway to the Lewiston-Queenston bridge into the U.S. Follow Robert Moses Parkway north to Rt. 18F to Old Fort Niagara . This National Historic Landmark was occupied by the French, British and Americans at various times. The oldest structure is the French Castle, which dates to 1726. Costumed interpreters provide demonstrations daily, and historic re-enactors hold encampments during summer months.

Return via the Robert Moses Parkway and follow signs to I-190 south to Buffalo.

Proper documentation is required to cross the Canadian/US border. To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE TOURS

CITY OF GOOD NEIGHBORS: A BUFFALO DAY TRIP

The city of Buffalo offers its guests a mix of heritage, cultural and entertainment options. Begin your tour with breakfast at Mattie’s Restaurant, (1412 Fillmore Avenue). After breakfast, proceed south on Fillmore Avenue and turn right on North Hampton Street where you will arrive at the Buffalo Museum of Science (1020 Humboldt Parkway). For more than 140 years, the Buffalo Museum of Science has provided learning experiences for its visitors by showcasing scientific collections and national traveling exhibits.

From the museum, turn right onto West Parade Street. Turn right onto Best Street. Turn left onto Route 33 West. Exit at Goodell Street. Turn left on Michigan Avenue/Harriet Tubman Way and look for the Michigan Street Baptist Church (511 Michigan Avenue). Built in 1845, it is the oldest structure in Western New York that was built for and continuously occupied by African Americans. It was a legendary rest stop on the Underground Railroad. It was also a meeting place for 19th Century abolitionists.

Next, take Michigan Avenue, turning right onto Broadway and then right onto Nash Street. Arrive at The Nash House (36 Nash Street). Reverend J. Edward Nash, Sr. was the pastor of the Michigan Street Baptist Church from 1892-1953. Reverend Nash’s statewide and national reputation allowed him to host national civil rights leaders like Booker T. Washington. W.E.B. DuBois and many others. A wealth of speeches, notes and letters have been preserved highlighting Buffalo Niagara’s importance to the nation’s civil rights movement.

From the Nash House proceed south on Nash Street. Turn right onto William Street. Turn left onto Michigan Avenue until you arrive at the Buffalo Transportation/Pierce-Arrow Museum (236 Michigan Avenue). Visitors will steer their way through a myriad of impeccable Pierce-Arrow and Thomas Flyer vintage cars.

Return north on Michigan Avenue. Turn left onto Goodell Street. Turn right onto Main Street. Turn left onto Allen Street for lunch at the Palm Tree Caribbean Restaurant (69 Allen Street) or another of the many restaurants in the neighborhood.

Within walking distance are El Museo (91 Allen Street) and an assortment of specialty boutiques. El Museo is dedicated to the exhibition of art by Latin, Caribbean, African American and other artists of color. After a tour of the shops, turn right on Elmwood Avenue and arrive at Albright-Knox Art Gallery (1285 Elmwood Avenue). The Albright-Knox enjoys a worldwide reputation as an outstanding center of modern art. Or, enjoy an afternoon at the Buffalo Zoo (300 Parkside Avenue). Continue north on Elmwood Avenue past the Albright-Knox and turn right onto Nottingham Terrace. Turn right onto Amherst Street and right again on Parkside Avenue. Enter the Zoo parking lot at Jewett Parkway.

For dinner try any of the great number of restaurants on nearby Hertel Avenue. Greek coffee shops, Italian restaurants, pizza, chicken wings can all be found in this friendly neighborhood. To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

FOLLOW THE NORTH STAR: A DAY TRIP TO CANADA

Start your day with breakfast at EM Tea Coffee Cup Café (80 Oakgrove Avenue), then onward to the Peace Bridge and Canada. Follow East Delavan to Main Street. Go right onto Main until you reach Humboldt Parkway. Take a left and merge onto Route 198/Scajaquada Expressway. Follow the 198 to the New York State Thruway/I-190 South. Follow the signs to the Peace Bridge. After a toll and Customs check, make an immediate right onto Goderich Street and go two blocks to Queen Street. Turn right and proceed three blocks to the Niagara Parkway, one of the world’s great scenic drives. Stop at Mahoney Dolls House Gallery (657 Niagara Boulevard). Its basement is said to have a tunnel used by the Underground Railroad for smuggling slaves escaping from the United States.

Continue on to the St. Catharines Museum. Return to the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) via Goderich Street and proceed toward Toronto. Exit at Route 89 Glendale Avenue. Turn right on Glendale. Go left on York Avenue. Follow York, then make a right on Route 55/Niagara Stone Road. At the first left, turn onto Steward Road/Route 86. Make a left on Carlton Street. Take Carlton past bridge to Welland Avenue. Arrive at St. Catharines Museum (1932 Welland Canals Parkway). The Follow the North Star exhibit chronicles the story of slaves who fled the United States into Canada via the Niagara. Next, visit Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church (92 Geneva Street). Through its association with Harriet Tubman, Salem Chapel played an important role in the abolitionist movement in Canada.

Visit the lovely village of Niagara-on-the-Lake via the QEW South and Route 55. Spend the afternoon visiting wineries and enjoying the specialty shops, or see a production at the internationally-acclaimed Shaw Festival. Shaw offers a dazzling variety of live theatre, from George Bernard Shaw to Oscar Wilde and their contemporaries. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a beautifully preserved 19th century village great for walking and window shopping. There are several wineries close by that offer free tours. There are many excellent restaurants for lunch or dinner.

Return to Fort Erie and the Peace Bridge via the scenic Niagara Parkway. This lovely stretch of road will take you through the charming village of Queenston, past the extraordinary Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, the Butterfly Conservatory, and into downtown Niagara Falls, Ontario. Stop and walk through Queen Victoria Park and along the edge of the Niagara Gorge before heading south along the Parkway. Follow the signs to the Peace Bridge and back to Buffalo.

To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

QUEEN CITY OF THE LAKES: A BUFFALO DAY II

Start the day off with breakfast at Gigi’s Restaurant (257 E. Ferry Street). After a soulful feast, go west on Ferry Street until you arrive at Broderick Park. Slaves gathered here to cross the Niagara River to freedom in Canada.

Continue on to Erie Basin Marina Gardens and the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park. Leaving Broderick Park, turn right onto Niagara Street into downtown Buffalo. Turn right onto South Elmwood Avenue. Cross Church Street to the Lower Terrace and turn right on Erie Street. Walk the Erie Basin Marina Gardens, which have the distinction of being one of 25 All-American Rose Selection test gardens in the United States. Specialty annual flowers include over 200 worldwide varieties.

Stroll along the beautiful banks of the Buffalo River and visit the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. It is the largest inland naval park of its kind in the United States and home to the guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock (which houses an African American Soldiers exhibit), the destroyer USS The Sullivans and submarine, USS Croaker.

The Buffalo Harbor Cruises are docked nearby. Narrated tours and dining cruises will take you onto Lake Erie and the Black Rock Canal where you can view Buffalo’s lovely skyline and the 1833 Lighthouse. Lunch or a snack is available at the Hatch in the middle of the rose garden.

From the Marina, make your way to Tifft Nature Preserve, one of the largest urban nature preserves in the United States. From Erie Street turn left onto Bingham Street (directly under highway overpass). Turn left at Church Street, followed by another left onto 190 South. Bear right towards Route 5/Lackawanna. Exit at Tifft Street/Fuhrman Boulevard. Turn left onto Tifft Street. Make an immediate left onto Ohio Street. Arrive at Tifft Nature Preserve (1200 Fuhrman Boulevard). This 264-acre habitat features walking trails, a 75-acre freshwater cattail march and attracts over 200 species of birds annually.

Departing from Tifft, go right onto Ohio Street, then left on Fuhrmann Blvd.Take Route 5 West to Ridge Road Exit. Turn left on Ridge Road. Then make a left on South Park Avenue and arrive at Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (2655 South Park Avenue). Take a stroll through the most intact Frederick Law Olmsted landscape and arboretum in the country. Exotic horticultural treasures from different climates can be found in the Victorian tri-domed conservatory, one of only two crystal palaces left designed by Lord & Burnham in an Olmsted-designed park.

A short walk away, you’ll find Our Lady of Victory Basilica and National Shrine (2760 South Park Avenue). This Roman Catholic church is an exquisite combination of Italian Renaissance and French Baroque styles. You’ll be amazed by this architectural masterpiece.

For dinner try the Caribbean fare at nearby Curly’s Bar and Grill (647 Ridge Road).

Proper documentation is required to cross the Canadian/US border.

To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

YOU’LL FALL FOR THE FALLS: NIAGARA LEWISTON ITINERARY III

After breakfast at the Towne Restaurant (186 Allen Street) you’ll be ready for a day of fun in Niagara Falls. Start on Allen Street and turn left on Elmwood Avenue. Turn right onto Church Street and immediately onto the New York State Thruway/I-190 North towards Niagara Falls. Proceed to the Robert Moses Parkway North/Buffalo Ave. Exit. Continue towards Niagara Reservation State Park entrance. Proceed to the Visitor Center and purchase tickets to one of the world’s great tourist attractions, the Maid of the Mist. This world famous cruise will take you to the very heart of the thundering Horseshoe Falls. It’s a fantastic journey through crashing water and alongside massive rocks.

Next, visit the Cave of the Winds. You’ll take an elevator to the base of the American Falls, where you’ll be led by a tour guide on a series of twisting and turning trails and catwalks that will bring you a mere ten feet from the billowing torrents of the Bridal Veil Falls. Feel the rushing water looming above, dousing you with a generous spray as you face the thundering Falls head-on. Rainbows are visible day and night.

Have lunch at one of the assortment of eateries in the Park before departing for historic Lewiston. From Niagara Street, turn left onto Rainbow Blvd. North and continue onto Robert Moses Parkway North. Exit at Lewiston/Artpark. Turn left on Center Street before taking a left onto South Fifth. Turn left onto Cayuga Street and look for the First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston (505 Cayuga Street). The church gave shelter to runaway slaves and conducted them to freedom in Canada. Today, an Underground Railroad sculpture stands in the front of the church. While in Lewiston, visit the Castellani Art Museum that features Freedom Crossing, the Underground Railroad Regional Interpretive Center.

For some afternoon excitement, take a ride on the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours (115 S. Water Street). Going back towards South Fifth, turn left on Center Street and drive to the end of the street. Turn left on South Water Street and look for the Jet Boat dock. Passengers six and up will enjoy an hour-long whitewater adventure through the Niagara Gorge.

To end your day, take a tour of Murphy’s Orchards, a historic safe house on the Underground Railroad that remains virtually unchanged from the mid-1800s. Follow Center Street until it becomes Ridge Road. Turn left on Ewings Road, make another left on McKee Road before turning right on West Creek Road. Make a left on Ide Road, then turn right on McClew Road to arrive at Murphy’s Orchard (2402 McClew Road). The barn that harbored slaves in its secret hideaway still offers a profound experience for a visitor.

To download a printer-friendly map, click on the Download PDF link to the left.

Cruises

BELLA SERA YACHT CHARTERS INC.

Welcome aboard the Bella Sera, a 37-foot sailing sloop that can accommodate up to six passengers. We sail from the RCR docks in Wilson, NY most Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for our spectacular sunset sail. Sit back and enjoy a one and a half hour sail on beautiful Lake Ontario.
ADDRESS
Wilson Harbor
57 Harbor Street
Wilson, NY 14172
(716) 839-4433
Email: captrick@adelphia.net
Website: http://www.sailinglakeontario.com

BUFFALO HARBOR CRUISES - MISS BUFFALO

Take a narrated sightseeing cruise and travel through three bodies of water, passing through the historic Black Rock Lock and Canal. Party cruises and private charters also available. Public cruises: July-Labor Day (call for reservations). Private charters: May-Sep (call for rates and dates).
ADDRESS
Erie Basin Marina (dock location)
79 Marine Drive-Mailing Address
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 856-6696
(800) 244-8684
Website: http://www.buffaloharborcruises.com

GRAND ISLAND SPORTSMAN'S NIAGARA RIVER TOURS & CHARTERS

Select from a variety of charters aboard "Puppy Love," a 24' Bayliner Cruiser on the Upper Niagara River, Lake Erie or the Historic Erie Canal. Take a sightseeing cruise around Grand Island and see Niagara Falls from a unique vantage point. Visit the terminis of the Erie Canal where Governor DeWitt Clinton dedicated the opening of the canal in 1823. See the WWII warships and the Buffalo waterfront including its grain mills. Fish for walleye, bass or muskys. All tackle and bait are supplied. Scuba dive the crystal clear waters. Try your hand at water skiing or tubing. Stop at a riverside cafe for a famous Buffalo roast beef on weck sandwich. Visit one of the area's beautiful beaches. Or customize your charter. Reservations required.
ADDRESS
3407 Wallace Drive
Grand Island, NY 14072
(716) 773-9067
Email: mrh773@aol.com
Website: http://www.huntguide.com/grandisland.html

GRAND LADY CRUISES

Grand Lady Cruises Buffalo Niagara's only dinner cruise vessel. Conveniently located on Grand Island NY in the center of the Niagara Region minutes from downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls and all international bridge crossing. Sailing May through October
ADDRESS
100 Whitehaven Road at Holiday Inn
Grand Island, NY 14072
(716) 774-8594
(888) 824-5239
Website: http://www.grandlady.com

LOCKPORT LOCKS & ERIE CANAL CRUISES AND THE LOCKPORT CANALSIDE

Experience this AAA Gem Attraction featured on the History Channel. Enjoy a unique narrated two hour cruise past many historic sites and five original locks. Cruise includes being raised and lowered 50 feet in the only double set of locks on the Erie Canal. Banquet and meeting rooms open year-round.
ADDRESS
210 Market Street
Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 433-6155
(800) 378-0352
Website: http://www.lockportlocks.com

MOONDANCE

Charter this 46' catamaran for groups of up to 45 people or enjoy a romantic ride for two. Call ahead for reservations. May to October.
ADDRESS
2 Templeton Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 854-7245
Website: http://www.sailingonmoondance.com

SEVEN SEAS SAILING

Enjoy a few hours of fun on a zesty sail ride on Buffalo's Outer Harbor. Catering for parties of 20-200. May-September, call for hours.
ADDRESS
284 Fuhrmann Boulevard
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 824-1505
Website: http://www.sevenseassailing.com

WHIRLPOOL JET BOAT TOURS

Passengers ages six and up will enjoy this 45 minute white water adventure through the Niagara Gorge. Experience history, scenery, excitement and the thrill of a lifetime. Open daily May-October. Departure times vary and are subject to change. Reservations required.
HOURS
Mon: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Tues: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Wed: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Thur: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Fri: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Sun: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
ADDRESS
61 Melville Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, NY 14092
(905) 468-4800
(888) 438-4444
Admission: Adults $46, children ages 6-13 $39. Price does not include applicable taxes.
Website: http://www.whirlpooljet.com

House Museums and Building Tours

BUFFALO CITY HALL OBSERVATION TOWER

Buffalo City Hall is an Art Deco masterpiece with outstanding murals depicting the city's history and industry. Common Council Chamber with exquisite skylight and sculptures are a must see. Observation Tower gives a spectacular view of the waterfront and the Ellicott radial street design for Buffalo. Closed weekends and holidays.
HOURS
Mon: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Tues: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Wed: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Thur: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Sat: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Sun: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
ADDRESS
65 Niagara Square
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 851-5891
Website: http://www.city-buffalo.com

COLONEL WILLIAM BOND HOUSE

This 1824 National Register Home was constructed one year before the opening of the Erie Canal and stands as one of the oldest houses in Lockport. It has 12 furnished Empire style rooms. Closed holidays.
HOURS
Mon: Closed | Tues: Closed | Wed: Closed | Thur: June - Dec only 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | Fri: June - Dec only 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | Sat: June - Dec only 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | Sun: July & August only 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
ADDRESS
143 Ontario Street
Niagara County Historical Society, Inc.
Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 434-7433
Website: http://www.niagaracounty.org

DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE COMPLEX

Constructed between 1903 and 1905 as the home of Darwin and Isabelle Martin, the Martin House exemplifies Frank Lloyd Wright's "Prairie House" ideal and ranks as one of his finest residential works. Tours at the Martin House underscore how Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural genius is illustrated in timeless themes evident in his remarkable design: family, friendship, the meaning of home, and the American spirit as told through the story of Darwin D. Martin's patronage of America's greatest architect.
ADDRESS
125 Jewett Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 856-3858
Website: http://www.darwinmartinhouse.org

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S ROWING BOATHOUSE

In 1910, at the age of 43, Frank Lloyd Wright traveled to Europe to present what would become his most beloved collection of structure illustrations: the Wasmuth Portfolio. One of these famous drawings was something Wright called "Boathouse for the University of Wisconsin Boat Club." Twenty years later, the architect included this same boathouse in an international exhibition of six of his greatest works. The boathouse idea was obviously a favorite of Wright's, featuring design elements seen in other local treasures like the Martin House and the Larkin Building - large vertical piers supporting horizontal planes. Sadly, it was never constructed. It was one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most significant projects that had never come to fruition - until now. Completed in 2007, the Rowing Boathouse is open to the public for tours.
ADDRESS
194 Porter Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 362-3140
Website: http://www.wrightsboathouse.org

GRAYCLIFF ESTATE

Wright's masterpiece built between 1926-1927. Known as the "Jewel on the Lake," Graycliff was the summer residence of Isabelle and Darwin Martin from 1927 to the mid-40s. .With a complex of three buildings and lovely grounds designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, tours of the Graycliff Estate focus on the architectural innovations explored by Wright during the period of his most innovative work, and the friendship that arose between Wright and his clients. Set on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie, Graycliff is light, inviting and welcoming.
ADDRESS
6472 Old Lake Shore Road
Derby, NY 14047
(716) 947-9217
Website: http://www.graycliff.bfn.org

HULL HOUSE

Circa 1810 Federal-style house museum.
ADDRESS
5976 Genesee Street
Lancaster, NY 14086
(716) 852-3300
Website: http://www.landmark-niagara.org

MILLARD FILLMORE HOUSE

A National Historic Landmark house, which President Millard Fillmore helped build and lived in from 1826-1830. It contains furnishings and artifacts connected with Millard Fillmore's life. Beautiful rose and herb garden. Jun - Oct, Wed, Sat, Sun, 1pm - 4pm. Closed holidays. Special tours can be arranged by phoning (716) 652-3567.
ADDRESS
24 Shearer Avenue
East Aurora, NY 14052
(716) 652-8875
Website: http://www.millardfillmorehouse.org

NASH HOUSE

The former residence of the Rev. J. Edward Nash, the pastor of the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church. Many of Rev. Nash's sermons and letters that are a crucial part of Buffalo's African-American community history were written here and are on display for viewing.
HOURS
Mon: Closed | Tues: Closed | Wed: Closed | Thur: Closed | Fri: Closed | Sat: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Sun: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
ADDRESS
36 Nash Street
Buffalo, NY 14204
(716) 896-6188
Website: http://www.motherlandconnextions.com/nash.html

Q-R-S MUSIC ROLLS

Established in 1900, Q-R-S is the world's oldest and largest manufacturer of player piano rolls. Tour the factory to see historic instruments and how piano rolls are made.
ADDRESS
1026 Niagara Street
Buffalo, NY 14213
(716) 885-4600
(800) 247-6557
Website: http://www.qrsmusic.com

SHEA'S HISTORIC TOURS

Shea's Performing Arts Center is a major cultural institution that has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. Designed by C.W. and George L. Rapp of Chicago, Shea's features an interior of Neo-Spanish Baroque design. Shea's Grand Lobby features a reproduction of the original rendering done by Tiffany Studios for Rapp & Rapp. The intricately ornamented ceiling and spectacular chandeliers fully reflect Tiffany's rendering, one of the only four Tiffany-designed theatres still in existence. Come and tour our historic theatre, one of the finest in the country. Please call in advance to make reservations.
ADDRESS
646 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 847-1410
Admission: Adults $8, Seniors and Students $4, Groups of 20 or more $4.
Website: http://www.sheas.org

ST. JOSEPH'S R.C. CATHEDRAL

During each tour, experience the full "palette of tonal color" from the 5,300 pipe 1876 Hook & Hastings Centennial Organ of the U.S. Tours Wednesday & Friday at 1pm
ADDRESS
50 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 854-5855

THE ROYCROFT INN

Daily tours of the Roycroft Inn are offered during lunch and dinner. The tours are free and open to the public. Tour guides are at the inn from 11:30am until approximately 3pm, and 5:30ppm until approximately 8pm.
ADDRESS
40 South Grove Street
Buffalo, NY 14052
(716) 652-5552
Website: http://www.roycroftinn.com

THEODORE ROOSEVELT INAUGURAL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Historic house museum where Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as our 26th President in 1901. The Site is the only National Park location in Western New York. NOTE: Beginning January 2, 2008 the Site will close to the general public in anticipation of a major renovation. During the period the site is closed for regular tours, many regular activities will continue through collaborations with other institutions. Special "hard hat" tours will be offered during the summer months.
ADDRESS
641 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 884-0095
Website: http://www.nps.gov/thri

VAN HORN MANSION

A historic 1800s mansion, this lovely restored home is on display during a walking tour. Tours are given on Sunday's from 2-4pm, closed January and February.
ADDRESS
2165 Lockport-Olcott Road
Burt, NY 14028
(716) 778-7331

Specialty Tours

ARCADE AND ATTICA RAILROAD

Authentic scenic historic train ride through some picturesque countryside in 1915 coaches.
HOURS
Memorial Day weekend through October, Sat. & Sun. 12pm and 2pm, July & August, Wed. 12pm and 2pm, Fri. 2pm, please call for December schedule.
ADDRESS
278 Main Street
Arcade, NY 14009
(585) 496-9877
www.anarr.com

BUFFALO BIKE TAXI CO.

Buffalo, NY
Two passenger bike rides available Thursday and Friday evening (with late night service on Friday), Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday afternoon. Pickup locations in the downtown area near the Buffalo Harbor Marina, Dunn Tire Park, HSBC Arena, Theatre District, Chippewa Strip, Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, downtown hotels and all points in between. Rides are on a tip-basis only. Architectural/historical tours available; bike taxi can accommodate two passengers.
CONTACT INFORMATION
(716) 563-9325
E-mail: thomas@buffalobiketaxi.com
www.buffalobiketaxi.com

BUFFALO TOURS

Market Arcade Complex
617 Main Street, Suite M108
Buffalo, NY 14203
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!
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.
Please visit Buffalo Tours website for tour details.
(716) 852-3300
www.buffalotours.org

BURCHFIELD-PENNEY ART CENTER

Buffalo State College
Rockwell Hall, 1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
(716) 878-3510 or (877) WNY-ARCH
www.burchfield-penney.org

FORGOTTEN BUFFALO TOURS

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.
(716) 833-5211
www.forgottenbuffalo.com

GRAY LINE OF BUFFALO & NIAGARA FALLS

The Niagara region's leading sightseeing tour operator serving area visitors for over forty years. Offering daily, scheduled sightseeing tours of Buffalo (seasonal); Niagara Falls, NY; and Niagara Falls, Ontario. Overnight packages, group tour programs, step-on guide services, and other receptive services available.
ADDRESS
3466 Niagara Falls Blvd.
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
(716) 694-3600 or (800) 695-1603
Fax (716) 692-4398
www.grayline-niagarafalls.com
www.graylinebuffalo.com
Email: info@grayline-niagarafalls.com

GREATER BUFFALO TOURING

42 Tracy Street
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 854-3749
www.nakedcity.blogs.com

MASON WINFIELD’S GHOST WALKS

Tours take ghostly twists and turns and include conversations on the paranormal such as UFOs, hauntings, earth energies, ancient anomalies, magical societies, old-fashioned ghost lore and more.
(716) 655-6663
www.masonwinfield.com

MOTHERLAND CONNEXTIONS

Offering Underground Railroad tours, slideshows and mobile classrooms that make heritage tourism exciting. Understand the Underground Railroad by following the footsteps of those brave and hearty souls who took the secret passageways north to Canada.
HOURS
Mon - Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat 9am-2pm year round except Sundays and holidays.
ADDRESS
471 Hyde Park Boulevard
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
(716) 282-1028
www.motherlandconnextions.com

OPEN-AIR AUTOBUS OF BUFFALO

Open air bus tours with 360 degree views of historical and architectural attractions. Campaign for Greater Buffalo offers neighborhood walking and bus tours. Scheduled and group tours by appointment.
HOURS
May - Sep, Mon - Fri, 9am-5pm
ADDRESS
42 Tracy Street
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 854-3749
www.openairbuffalo.org/

WALK BUFFALO TOURS

Walk Buffalo is a 2.5 miles self-guided walking tour. Depending on your pace, it takes between 90 minutes and two hours to complete. The tour begins at the Market Arcade building, 617 Main Street, in the heart of downtown Buffalo’s Theatre District. There are 28 stops on the main tour, including such renowned landmarks as Louis Sullivan’s Guaranty Building, Richard Upjohn’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, Daniel Burnham’s Ellicott Square Building and Buffalo’s magnificent Art Deco City Hall. Pick up your Walk Buffalo book at the Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center at 617 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
www.walkbuffalo.com