Buffalo Scoop
West Senca Chamber Ad

Explore Buffalo announces May tour schedule

Apr 21, 2016 | Lifestyles

Explore Buffalo has released an exciting and interesting lineup of local architecture, history and neighborhood tours during the month of May.

May 1, 2 to 4 p.m.
Columbus Parkway, Columbus Statue, Columbus Park, Porter Avenue
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explorer Pass holders free
The Columbus Park area of the Prospect Hill neighborhood is rich in history and architecture with a spectacular view of Lake Erie and wonderful lake breezes. The elegant homes that line the entrance to the Peace Bridge tell the story of some of Buffalo’s wealthiest citizens in an area defined by the Erie Canal, Olmsted’s Front Park and Fort Porter. Hear about the healing spring waters that ran through the area causing it to became a travel destination for many and the beautiful hotels that catered to those travelers. Known as Doctor’s Row, this neighborhood became home to generations of Italian-American families including the founder of our Columbus Day holiday. Come stroll the area and learn about its incredible history and the current challenges the neighborhood faces to preserve its heritage in face of the Peace Bridge expansion.

This tour meets at the statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Park, on Porter Avenue. Ample on-street parking is available on Columbus Parkway or other nearby streets.

May 2, 9, 16 & 23, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Five Presidents in Buffalo
Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center, Washington & Clinton Streets, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explorer Pass holders free

The home of two presidents, Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland, Buffalo has also played host to many American presidents for important speeches and other occasions, the most infamous being President McKinley’s visit to the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 that ended tragically with his assassination. Some of the presidential stories in Buffalo are often told, while others are less widely known. Join us on this tour to learn about five presidents who are particularly prominent in Buffalo history.

Meet at the Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building, at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets across from the Hotel Lafayette. Two-hour metered parking is available on Washington Street and other nearby streets, or the nearest public parking ramp is the Adam Ramp at Washington and Eagle streets, one block away ($2 per hour). The nearest Metro Rail station, Lafayette Square, is one block away.

May 4, 6 to 8 p.m.
Inside St. Mary’s School for the Deaf
2253 Main St., Buffalo
Adults $15, Explorer Pass holders $10, students $5
St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, established in Buffalo in 1853 as the first academic school for the deaf in the country, was relocated from Edward Street to its current location on Main Street in 1898. This two-hour walking tour highlights the beautiful architecture of this historic building and offers fascinating information about the history and culture of deaf people in the Buffalo area. The tour also offers a glimpse into the current world of educating deaf and hard of hearing students in the 21st century.

Highlights of the tour include original woodwork from 1898, stained glass windows in the former chapel, the school’s cherished museum which houses a wealth of artifacts and photographs from throughout the decades at St. Mary’s, and a brief meet and greet with a few of the school’s residential students, which comprise approximately 30 percent of the current school population. Join us for a one-of-a-kind tour in one of Buffalo’s iconic buildings!

This tour meets at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. Enter the driveway from Main Street to use the parking lot which is behind the buildings; the main entrance faces the parking lot and is up a flight of stairs.

May 5, 12, 19 & 26, 1 to 2 p.m.;  May 14, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fontana Boathouse
1 Rotary Row, Buffalo”
Adults $10, students $5, Explorer Pass holders free
Join us for a tour of the only rowing boathouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright! Originally designed by Wright in 1905 for the University of Wisconsin, the Boathouse was never built until its construction in 2007 in Buffalo along the shore of the Black Rock Channel. This was one of Wright’s favorite designs, as evidenced by his inclusion of the Boathouse in his now-famous Wasmuth Portfolio.

Today the boathouse is being used for its original purpose as an active rowing facility, providing a unique opportunity to see one of Wright’s designs being used as originally intended. On the tour, you’ll learn about why it was never constructed in Wisconsin, and how it came to be built in Buffalo.

The tour includes both the exterior and interior of the Boathouse, providing an in-depth look at a masterpiece of Prairie Style design. While on the tour, enjoy the spectacular views of Lake Erie, the Niagara River and the Canadian shore from the Boathouse – and be sure to bring your camera!

Meet at the Boathouse at 1 Rotary Row, Buffalo. Take Porter Avenue west, and immediately after crossing the I-190 expressway, turn right at the Fontana Boathouse sign. Follow the driveway back to the Boathouse, where there is ample on-site parking.

May 5, 12, 19 & 26, 1 to 3 p.m.
Downtown Deco
Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center, Washington & Clinton Streets, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
This downtown walking tour focuses on downtown buildings built in Buffalo in one of the 20th century’s most distinctive architectural styles: Art Deco. Prevalent during the 1920s and 1930s, Art Deco is a unique style combining traditional motifs with modern imagery and materials of the Machine Age. Characterized by its use of bold geometric shapes, rich colors and lavish ornamentation, Art Deco buildings stand out for their beauty and symbolism.

The Court Street corridor of downtown Buffalo, from Lafayette Square to Niagara Square, puts the Art Deco style on grand display. Buildings featured on this tour include Buffalo City Hall, Rand Building, Industrial Bank Building, Michael Dillon Federal Courthouse, Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building and the lobby of the Hotel Lafayette. While visiting these Art Deco gems, you will learn about Buffalo during the 1920s and 1930s when these buildings were being built.

Meet at the Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building, at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets across from the Hotel Lafayette. Two-hour metered parking is available on Washington Street and other nearby streets, or the nearest public parking ramp is the Adam Ramp at Washington and Eagle streets, one block away ($2 per hour). The nearest Metro Rail station, Lafayette Square, is one block away.

May 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Masters of American Architecture
Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center, Washington & Clinton Streets, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
At the turn of the 20th century, Buffalo was the eighth largest city in America and the city’s businesses, organizations and citizens had the financial resources to hire the best architects and craftsmen and use the finest materials available. See signature works by some of America’s greatest architects on this downtown walking tour, and learn about the prominence of Buffalo on a national scale at the turn of the 20th century. Buildings included as part of this tour include St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Patrick Keeley; Old County Hall, Andrew Jackson Warner; Guaranty Building, Louis Sullivan & Dankmar Adler; St. Paul’s Cathedral, Richard Upjohn; Ellicott Square Building, Daniel Burnham & Co.; and the Old Post Office, Jeremiah O’Rourke, William Akin and James Knox Taylor.

Building interiors are featured wherever possible but access is not guaranteed; this depends on building availability, which can change with short notice, such as during funeral services at the cathedrals.

Meet at the Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building, at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets across from the Hotel Lafayette. Two-hour metered parking is available on Washington Street and other nearby streets, or the nearest public parking ramp is the Adam Ramp at Washington and Eagle streets, one block away ($2 per hour). The nearest Metro Rail station, Lafayette Square, is one block away.

May 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28, 1 to 3 p.m.
Beaux Arts Buffalo
Spot Coffee, Delaware & Chippewa, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Join Explore Buffalo for a downtown walking tour of some of the best examples of the Beaux-Arts style in Buffalo! Popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, Beaux-Arts, which translates as “Beautiful Arts” and began in Paris, is characterized by elaborate detail and ornamentation, with many classical influences. The buildings seen on this tour exemplify Buffalo at the turn of the 20th century, when the city was the eighth largest in America and hosted the Pan-American Exposition. Many were designed by prominent local architectural firms, including Green & Wicks and Esenwein & Johnson.

On this 90-minute tour, you will see exteriors and interiors of commercial buildings built in the Beaux-Arts style and learn about their history (note that more interiors are accessible on weekdays than on weekends). Many of these buildings have been meticulously restored in recent years to meet current needs, including the Electric Tower and Market Arcade.

This tour meets at Spot Coffee at 227 Delaware Ave., at the corner of Chippewa Street. Two-hour metered parking is available on Delaware Avenue and other nearby streets, or private parking lots are available – the closest is on Delaware Avenue, next to Spot Coffee. The nearest Metro Rail station, Fountain Plaza, is three blocks away. Street parking downtown is free on weekends.

May 7, 14, 21 & 28, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Riverfront Renaissance
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 125 Main St., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Buffalo grew from the water’s edge, as the Erie Canal and later the railroads brought unprecedented commerce and industry to the city. This waterfront walking tour will explore some of the oldest neighborhoods of Buffalo, many of which have gone through numerous transitions and are in the midst of yet another change as the city returns its focus to the water. The redevelopment of Canalside and new waterfront attractions are featured in this tour, along with the history of the opening of the Erie Canal and development of the grain elevator and other waterfront industry.

This tour meets at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at 125 Main St. (adjacent to the Erie Canal Harbor Metro Rail station). Street parking is available on some surrounding streets – street parking in downtown Buffalo is free on weekend. The closest paid private parking lot is AllPro Parking at 155 Washington St., Buffalo, directly behind the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.

May 7, 13, 21 & 27, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Millionaire Miles: Delaware Avenue Mansions
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
The richest of the rich in Buffalo put their wealth on full display on this section of Delaware Avenue, home to the grandest collection of mansions built in the city. Marvel at these grandiose monuments to the Gilded Age and enjoy the intriguing stories of the families who built them — many were related — on this tour of Delaware Avenue from North Street to Bryant Street (for the other half of “Millionaire Mile,” see the Delaware Avenue Midway tour). Interior access to some of the mansions will be included in the tour based upon availability.

This tour meets at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site at 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Parking is available in the TR Site’s parking lot accessible from Franklin Street or Delaware Avenue.

May 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22 & 28, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Best of Buffalo
Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center, Washington & Clinton Streets, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Join Explore Buffalo for a downtown walking tour of the best of Buffalo architecture and history! The buildings included on this overview tour help tell the story of Buffalo’s rapid rise to prominence, from the opening of the Erie Canal to the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. Buildings seen on this tour were designed by both nationally and locally significant architects, including Louis Sullivan, Richard Upjohn, Louise Bethune and EB Green.

Perfect for both visitors and residents alike, this tour is an excellent introduction to Buffalo’s architectural heritage. This is an exterior-only tour; for building interiors, please see our in-depth downtown tours — Masters of American Architecture and Beaux Arts Buffalo.

Meet at the Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building, at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets across from the Hotel Lafayette. Two-hour metered parking is available on Washington Street and other nearby streets, or the nearest public parking ramp is the Adam Ramp at Washington and Eagle streets, one block away ($2 per hour). The nearest Metro Rail station, Lafayette Square, is one block away.

May 8, 22 & 28, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Silo City: Vertical
General admission $35, student admission $30, Explore Pass holders $30
Silo City, 120 Silo City Row, Buffalo
This tour is an experience unlike any other tour in the world! Silo City: Vertical will take you to the top of the American and Perot grain elevator complexes. Approximately two and half hours in length, you will experience all of the history and mechanics of the grain elevator, as well as the malt production process in the Perot malthouse on this in-depth tour. A look at some of the regenerative projects ongoing at Silo City is included.

Please note that Silo City: Vertical is not recommended for those with a fear of heights. Participants in this tour must be physically able to go up approximately 100 feet (10 stories) of stairs and a short interior ladder to reach the top – and then come back down! The elevators have been out of commission for years, so stairs are the only way to go.

The tour meets at Silo City, 120 Silo City Row, Buffalo. Turn from Ohio Street onto Silo City Row, and enter Silo City through the gate. Ahead on your right will be a small brick office building where the tour will assemble. Ample parking is available on site.

May 8, 21 & 29, 2 to 4 p.m.
Lincoln Parkway
Abraham Lincoln Statue in the Rose Garden, 199 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to be the principle approach to the jewel of his Buffalo park system, Delaware Park, Lincoln Parkway is one of the most beautiful streets in Buffalo. The homes along Lincoln Parkway, constructed in the early part of the 20th century by some of Buffalo’s wealthiest families, represent a wide variety of architectural styles. This tour will be a “walk in the park” as we explore the neighborhood and the stories of the families who have lived there!

The tour meets at the statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of the Rose Garden in Delaware Park. Abundant free street parking on Lincoln Parkway is available.

May 12, 7 to 9 p.m.
Season Kickoff Party
Riverfest Park Lodge, 249 Ohio St., Buffalo
General admission $30, Explore Pass holders $25
Summer is just around the corner which means it is time to kick off the tour season with a party! Join us at the brand new lodge in Riverfest Park to enjoy Buffalo’s newest waterfront destination. Enjoy the view of the sunset on the Buffalo River and grain elevators as we celebrate the start of a new season of tours! Docents will be leading mini tours of the park and waterfront neighborhood’s history throughout the evening. Included in admission is hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets for beer or wine (cash bar for additional drinks).

May 13 & 27, 7 to 9 p.m.
Allentown Mob Tour
Cafe 59, 62 Allen St., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
When Italian and Sicilian immigrants came to Buffalo, many of their local customs came with them – and so did the Mafia. Through much of the 20th century, the Allentown neighborhood was a hotspot for mob activity. Do you want to know how a Rembrandt painting stolen from a French museum found its way to Buffalo? Or how one Buffalo mobster got the nickname “Lucky Pants”? Come on the Allentown Mob Tour to find out!

Come on this tour and receive a special deal for a free glass of beer or wine with the purchase of a sandwich or entree at Cafe 59, where the tour begins and ends!

This tour meets in front of Cafe 59, 62 Allen St. at the corner of Franklin Street. Street parking on Allen, Franklin and other nearby streets is available and free on weekends or after 5 p.m.

May 14, 1 to 5 p.m.
Brewing Buffalo Bus Tour
Gene McCarthy’s, 73 Hamburg St., Buffalo
General admission $60, Explore Pass holders $55
Brewing in Buffalo has continually evolved from its beginnings in the early 1800s to its present day revival. At its peak in the early 1900s before Prohibition, Buffalo’s brewing industry included nearly 30 independent breweries producing millions of gallons of beer each year. Today, Buffalo’s brewing culture is returning, with the opening of numerous craft breweries around the city.

Join Explore Buffalo for a four-hour bus tour to learn about the history of brewing in the Queen City, and visit four craft breweries for interior tours and product samples.

May 14, 2 to 4 p.m.; May 24, 6 to 8 p.m.
Hidden Gems of the Delaware District
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Take a walk around the block on Linwood Avenue, Bryant Street, Oakland Place and Summer Street to discover beautiful gardens and spectacular homes in a wide variety of architectural styles just off Delaware Avenue. Many of the families who built these homes are well-known in Buffalo history, such as the Goodyear family, while others are less well known but equally intriguing. Join Explore Buffalo to learn their stories and discover the many hidden delights of this neighborhood!

This tour meets at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site at 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Parking is available in the TR Site’s parking lot accessible from Franklin Street or Delaware Avenue.

May 15, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Luxury Living: Delaware District by Bike
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Lined with opulent mansions, Delaware Avenue is a reminder of the Queen City’s Gilded Age prosperity. Join Explore Buffalo for a bike tour along this grand avenue and learn about these glorious mansions and the wealthy industrialists and financiers who built them. The tour will also visit some of the lesser-known side streets that rival Delaware Avenue for elegance and sophistication.

May 15, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
West Side Mob Tour
Providence Social, 490 Rhode Island St., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Buffalo’s West Side was once a hotbed of mob activity and government surveillance as law enforcement tried to make a dent in the criminal underworld, often with little success. Find out how the mob succeeded at eluding the government men for decades on this entertaining tour. This tour is adapted from Mike Rizzo’s book “Gangsters and Organized Crime in Buffalo.”

The tour meets in front of Providence Social restaurant at 490 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. Free street parking is available on Rhode Island, Chenango and other nearby streets.

May 21, 22, 28 & 29, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Elevator Alley Kayak Tour
Elevator Alley Kayak, 65 Vandalia St., Buffalo
General admission $40, student admission $35, Explore Pass holders $35
The best way to appreciate Buffalo’s many grain elevators is from the water! From a kayaking perspective, the massive scale of the grain elevators and silos will be even more awe-inspiring. Join Explore Buffalo for a kayak tour of the Buffalo River and its grain elevators in partnership with Elevator Alley Kayak, who will provide the kayaks for this urban adventure tour. Learn about the history of the grain elevators in Buffalo and have many terrific photo opportunities on this guided kayak tour!

Meet at Elevator Alley Kayak at The Barrel Factory at 65 Vandalia St., Buffalo, at the corner of Hamburg and Republic streets, across from Gene McCarthy’s. The tour will launch from Mutual Riverfront Park, a one block walk from The Barrel Factory.

May 21, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Cottage District
Buffalo Rome Cafe, 388 Porter Ave., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Little Summer Street has the most picturesque cottages in the city. Built in the 1870s  by English immigrants, the charming cottages of Little Summer Street create a neighborhood truly unique in Buffalo. Explore this and other streets off “The Avenue,” the Olmsted-planned street now known as Richmond Avenue, and enjoy an interior visit at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum in the former Plymouth Methodist Church.

This tour meets at the Buffalo Rome Cafe at 388 Porter Ave., at the corner of York Street. Street parking is available.

May 21, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Inside Coca-Cola Field
Coca-Cola Field, One James D. Griffin Plaza, Buffalo
General admission $30, Explorer Pass holders $25
Come early before a Buffalo Bisons game to take a behind-the-scenes tour of Coca-Cola Field! When the stadium opened in 1988, it set the trend for stadium construction across the country. This tour will take you throughout the stadium, seeing places normally off limits to the public such as the press box (note that access to the locker rooms is not available on this tour). Along the way, learn some fun facts about the Buffalo Bisons and local baseball history! This tour is made possible through the generous cooperation of the Buffalo Bisons. Included with this tour is a game ticket and a voucher for a hot dog and soda.

This tour meets at the Swan Street gate of Coca-Cola Field at One James D. Griffin Plaza, Buffalo.

May 22, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Scandalous Buffalo
Spot Coffee, Delaware Avenue & W. Chippewa Street, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Join Explore Buffalo for a tour of the scandalous side of Buffalo history! On this downtown walking tour you’ll learn some of the darker stories of the Queen City’s past. Stops included on the tour include the site of a triple hanging in 1825 and the former location of a Ku Klux Klan office. You’ll also find out what happened to the assassin who shot President William McKinley at Buffalo’s 1901 Pan-American Exposition.

On this tour, you’ll learn about the role some of Buffalo’s lawmen played in maintaining civil order, including a popular anti-Prohibition mayor and the Erie County sheriff who became the only American President to have executed a prisoner by hanging. The architectural landmarks of downtown Buffalo provide a magnificent backdrop for these stories, many of which sound straight from a movie script – but they’re all true!

This tour meets at Spot Coffee at 227 Delaware Ave., at the corner of Chippewa Street. Two-hour metered parking is available on Delaware Avenue and other nearby streets, or private parking lots are available – the closest is on Delaware Avenue, next to Spot Coffee. The nearest Metro Rail station, Fountain Plaza, is three blocks away. Street parking downtown is free on weekends.

May 22 & 28, 1 to 3 p.m.
Silo City: Grounded
Silo City, 120 Silo City Row, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
At ground level, experience the monumental scale of the grain elevators constructed in Buffalo in the first half of the 20th century, and also see how they are now being repurposed. On this guided walk around the grounds of Silo City, you will enter the ground floor work areas of a flour mill, two grain elevators and a malthouse. You will also see new projects including “Elevator B.”

The tour meets at Silo City, 120 Silo City Row, Buffalo. Turn from Ohio Street onto Silo City Row, and enter Silo City through the gate. Ahead on your right will be a small brick office building where the tour will assemble. Ample parking is available on site.

May 22, 1 to 3 p.m.
Downtown Lockport
Flight of Five Winery, Old City Hall, 2 Pine St., Lockport
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Lockport is a canal town unlike any other on the Erie Canal. Growing out of a need to scale the Niagara Escarpment, the Flight of Five is an engineering feat that has long attracted visitors to this area. While Lockport is well known for its important role in the success of the Erie Canal, there is more to Lockport than just the Locks. This tour will explore the development of Lockport from the early 1800s to modern times, including the humble Quakers who founded the town, inventors who brought about economic and cultural development, beautiful architecture and even a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Meet at the Flight of Five Winery in Old City Hall at 2 Pine St., Lockport. Parking is available on the street or in the adjacent parking lot.

May 22, 2 to 4 p.m.
Landmarks & Landscapes by Bike
Indian Hunter Statue, Meadow Drive, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
On this overview bike tour of Buffalo’s museum district, see works by some of America’s greatest architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright and Henry Hobson Richardson, set within a park and parkway system designed by celebrated landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Many of Buffalo’s landmark cultural attractions, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Buffalo History Museum, call the Olmsted landscapes home. Along the way, admire a diverse collection of public sculpture that has been incorporated into Olmsted’s system. This tour is approximately six miles in length with frequent stops, with much of the tour along designated bike paths.

Meet at the Indian Hunter statue on the Delaware Park Ring Road, near Agassiz Circle. Helmets are required for all tour participants. Each tour participant must have a bicycle in good working condition; participants are also required to sign a waiver before the tour.

The minimum age for this tour is 14 years old. Advance reservations are encouraged but not required for this tour. In the event of heavy rain or other severe weather, this tour will be canceled.

May 24, 6 to 8 p.m.
Elmwood Village Victorians
Perks Coffee, 448 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
Exploring the streets of the Elmwood Village, guests will see a varied assortment of architectural styles and details. Developed along the Elmwood Avenue streetcar line that opened in 1889, the Elmwood Village is a highly intact residential neighborhood that showcases many beautiful homes in the Queen Anne and other Victorian styles, which were popular at the time of the neighborhood’s development. This tour includes parts of both the Elmwood Historic District West and the Elmwood Historic District East, which together create the largest historic district in Buffalo and one of the largest in the nation. Discover historic houses, apartment buildings, businesses and more on this guided walking tour.

The tour meets at Perks Coffee at 448 Elmwood Ave. at the corner of Bryant Street. Street parking is available on Elmwood Avenue and surrounding streets.

May 29, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Hamlin Park
Canisius College Student Center, 98 Hughes Ave., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
This Buffalo neighborhood is on the National Register for Historic Places. It was once the site of popular horse-drawn carriage races at the Buffalo Driving Park, established by internationally-renowned horse breeder and Buffalo businessman Cicero Hamlin. At the turn of the 20th century, the Driving Park site and surrounding farmland were developed into a planned, suburban-like community for Buffalo’s growing middle class.

This neighborhood connected to the Olmsted Park System via the Humboldt Parkway, which connected Delaware Park with today’s Martin Luther King Parkway. The neighborhood was also joined by the campus of Canisius College. While the Parkway was unfortunately lost to highway construction, Hamlin Park remains a proud neighborhood of historic homes. Come explore this historic neighborhood with Explore Buffalo to learn about the history of the influential Hamlin family and development of the neighborhood while seeing many excellent examples of early 20th century residential building styles.

This tour meets in front of the Canisius College Student Center at 98 Hughes Ave., Buffalo. Street parking on Hughes Avenue and other surrounding streets is available.

May 29, 2 to 4 p.m.
What’s New in Buffalo by Bike
Tim Horton Statue, Main Street & Marine Drive, Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
This tour is a great introduction to the “new Buffalo” for both weekend visitors and ex-pats returning for the weekend, as well as for local residents from the city and suburbs who want to see for themselves what all the excitement is about at Canalside and Downtown Buffalo.

Some of the tour highlights at the waterfront include the “Shark Girl” and “Tim Horton” statues at Canalside, HarborCenter and the Cobblestone District. Moving into downtown, the tour will stop at Niagara and Lafayette Squares to see buildings such as the Robert H. Jackson Federal Courthouse and Hotel Lafayette. Passing through the Theater District, the tour will also visit the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and see the future home of the UB Medical School that is currently under construction.

Meet at the Tim Horton statue at Main Street and Marine Drive. Helmets are required for all tour participants. Each tour participant must have a bicycle in good working condition; participants are also required to sign a waiver before the tour. The minimum age for this tour is 14 years old. Advance reservations are encouraged but not required for this tour. Please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather. In the event of heavy rain or other severe weather, this tour will be canceled.

May 31, 6 to 8 p.m.
Building Buffalo: Medical Campus & Allentown Development Walking Tour
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
General admission $15, student admission $5, Explore Pass holders free
The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is rapidly growing, with billions of dollars of new construction recently completed, in progress, or soon to be underway. This includes the new University at Buffalo Jacobs Medical School and the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, both targeting 2017 completion dates. This tour will view these construction sites as well as finished buildings such as the Gates Vascular Institute and Conventus. (Note: This is an exterior-only tour that does not include any interior access.)

Related to the construction boom on the Medical Campus, the adjacent historic Allentown neighborhood has seen significant attention recently, focused on restoration of renovation of many of its historic buildings. This tour will view many of these restoration projects, particularly those along Main Street. Come and join Explore Buffalo to see the amazing transformation of this neighborhood.

This tour meets at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site at 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Parking is available in the TR Site’s parking lot accessible from Franklin Street or Delaware Avenue.

For more information and reservations, please visit www.explorebuffalo.org or call (716) 245-3032. Please note that advance reservations are encouraged but not required for walking tours. All credit card payments must be made in advance. Advance reservations with a credit card can be made online until the tour starting time. Cash or checks only are accepted at the start of the tour. If you make an advance reservation, please print your confirmation email, or be prepared to show it on your phone.

West Senca Chamber Ad