Unique and exciting tours highlighting Buffalo’s history, art and architecture are being offered through Explore Buffalo throughout the month of June.
Riverfront Renaissance
June 1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22, 25, 26, 29 • 10 a.m.
Meet: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 125 Main St., Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer 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 on this tour, along with the history of the opening of the Erie Canal and development of the grain elevator and other waterfront industry.
University District
June 1 • 10 a.m.
Meet: Behind the University Metro Rail Station, 3383 Main St., on the UB South Campus. Free parking is available in the adjacent Park-and-Ride lot.
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
When the University at Buffalo purchased the Erie County Almshouse and Hospital on Main Street in 1909, it helped spur growth of nearby residences and businesses. The neighborhood that emerged boasts today’s University Park Historic District, which was the first “gated community” in Buffalo. There are several other landmarked sites in the neighborhood, as well as a commercial district along Main Street that reflects the adjacent college.
This tour will highlight the University Metro Rail Station and the public art it contains, several historic buildings on the University campus, and the University Presbyterian Church. Moving into the adjacent neighborhood, the tour will view representative homes in the University Park Historic District, the Parkside Candy shop, and finish with recently completed wall murals.
Elevator Alley Kayak Sunset Tour
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • 6 p.m.
Meet: Elevator Alley Kayak at The Barrel Factory, 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.
General Admission $40, Student Admission $35, Explorer 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 us 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!
Tour participants must be able to kayak approximately four miles, from Mutual Riverfront Park to Canalside and back. Reservations are required for this tour as a limited number of kayaks are available. The minimum age for this tour is 14 years old.
Elevator Alley Kayak Tour
June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 • 9 a.m.
Meet: Elevator Alley Kayak at The Barrel Factory, 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.
General Admission $40, Student Admission $35, Explorer 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 us 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!
Tour participants must be able to kayak approximately four miles, from Mutual Riverfront Park to Canalside and back. Reservations are required for this tour as a limited number of kayaks are available. The minimum age for this tour is 14 years old.
Silo City: Grounded
June 2, 9, 16, 23 • 10 a.m.
June 5, 18, 25 • 1 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21 • 6 p.m.
Meet: 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.”
Masters of American Architecture
June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 • 10 a.m.
Meet: 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.; Old Post Office, Jeremiah O’Rourke, William Akin & 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.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fontana Boathouse
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • 1 p.m.
June 4 • 11 a.m.
Meet: 1 Rotary Row, Buffalo
General $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. Be sure to bring your camera!
Downtown Deco
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • 1 p.m.
Meet: Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center, Washington & Clinton streets, Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
This downtown walking tour focuses on 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.
Sunset Silo City Vertical – Sunset
June 2, 9, 23 • 6 p.m.
Meet: 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.
General Admission $45, Student Admission $40, Explorer Pass Holders $40
Join us for a special sunset edition of our most popular tour, with dinner at the end of the tour along the Buffalo River as the sun sets on the Buffalo River.
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.
Mr. & Mrs. Grover Cleveland
June 2 • 6:30 p.m.
Meet: At the statue of Grover Cleveland outside Buffalo City Hall, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, at the northeast corner of the building facing Niagara Square. Street parking in downtown Buffalo is free after 5 p.m.
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
One of Buffalo’s most famous citizens, Stephen Grover Cleveland is still often overlooked or casually dismissed by the history books. With a meteoric rise from sheriff of Erie County to president of the United States within just a few years, Cleveland made his mark not only on Buffalo but also on the nation.
Cleveland’s career was not without its fair share of scandal, both in Buffalo and in the White House. His White House wedding to Buffalo’s Frances Folsom was the talk of the town for more than one reason. Join us on this entertaining tour as we trace the life of Buffalo’s President, Grover Cleveland and his First Lady. This tour on June 2 will coincide with their 130th wedding anniversary!
Beaux-Arts Buffalo
June 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 • 1 p.m.
Meet: Spot Coffee, 227 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
Join us 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 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.
Brick by Brick: Residential Allentown Revealed!
June 3 • 6 p.m.
Meet: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Parking is available in the Theodore Roosevelt Site’s parking lot accessible from Franklin Street or Delaware Avenue.
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free, TR Site Members Free
This walking tour of North Pearl and Franklin streets in the historic Allentown neighborhood focuses on residential architecture of the mid-19th century. Two of Allentown’s most intriguing residential streets, North Pearl and Franklin streets feature brick mid-Victorian homes designed in the Italianate and Queen Anne styles. Located between Main Street and Delaware Avenue, these streets attracted professionals who wanted to combine comfortable suburban living with proximity to the boom of Buffalo’s commerce. Join us for this neighborhood walking tour to see excellent examples of these architectural styles and learn about the history of the homes and individuals who built them.
Allentown Mob Tour
June 3, 10, 17, 24 • 7 p.m.
Meet: 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, at 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.
Paddles + Pints
June 3 • 7:30 p.m. with fireworks viewing
June 10, 17, 24 • 6 p.m.
Meet: Elevator Alley Kayak, The Barrel Factory, 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.
General Admission $45, Romance on the River Special: $80 for 2, Explorer Pass Holders $40. There is no discounted price for bringing your own kayak for this tour.
Join us for a unique twist on our usual Elevator Alley Kayak Tour, as we end the tour with a pint of Old First Ward beer at Gene McCarthy’s Tavern! On nights when there are fireworks at the Buffalo Bisons game, the tour will be later so we can view the fireworks from the water (the kayaks have lights). This is already the perfect date night, but to make it even better, there is a special “Romance on the River” price for couples!
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 us 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!
Lincoln Parkway
June 4, 25 • 10 a.m.
June 12 • 2 p.m.
Meet: Statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of the Rose Garden in Delaware Park
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer 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!
Millionaire Miles: Delaware Avenue Mansions
June 4, 10, 18, 24 • 10 a.m.
June 7 • 6 p.m.
Meet: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Parking is available in the Theodore Roosevelt Site’s parking lot accessible from Franklin Street or Delaware Avenue.
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.
Best of Buffalo
June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 • 10:30 a.m.
Meet: Visit Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center, Washington & Clinton streets, Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explore Pass Holders Free
Join us for a downtown walking tour of the best of Buffalo architecture and history! The buildings included on this overview tour help to 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.
Old First Ward
June 4, 19 • 1 p.m.
Meet: Mutual Riverfront Park, 41 Hamburg St., Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
The First Ward is the neighborhood adjacent to the Buffalo River, located in the shadows of the grain elevators that employed many of the neighborhood’s residents. On this tour, you will learn about how the growth and development of the neighborhood was closely tied to the rise of the grain trade at Buffalo’s harbor. A neighborhood with a proudly Irish heritage, the First Ward has been the birthplace and home to some of Buffalo’s most famous citizens, including Michael Shea, Jimmy Slattery and Fingy Connors. Come on this tour to learn their stories and many more! The tour will end at Gene McCarthy’s Tavern and Old First Ward Brewing, the perfect place to enjoy a pint after the tour.
Meet at Mutual Riverfront Park at 41 Hamburg St., Buffalo. Street parking is available on Hamburg and South streets by the park; please do not use the parking lot for the Waterfront Memories & More Museum.
Hidden Gems of the Delaware District
June 4 • 2 p.m.
June 14 • 6 p.m.
Meet: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Parking is available in the Theodore Roosevelt Site’s parking lot accessible from Franklin Street or Delaware Avenue.
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 us to learn their stories and discover the many hidden delights of this neighborhood!
Silo City: Vertical
June 5, 7, 14, 18, 21, 25 • 10 a.m.
Meet: 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.
General Admission $35, Student Admission $30, Explorer Pass Holders $30
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. No sandals or open-toed shoes are permitted on this tour. Reservations required!
West Side Mob Tour
June 5, 19 • 10 a.m.
Meet: 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.”
On and Around Richmond Avenue by Bike
June 5 • 10 a.m.
Meet: Perks Coffee, 448 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
This tour is a terrific overview of the Victorian architecture and hidden commercial corners in and around Frederick Law Olmsted’s grand Richmond Avenue. On this tour, we will venture from the Elmwood Village and see mini neighborhoods from the EB Green-designed homes on Dorchester Road to the Fargo Estate Historic District and Cottage District.
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.
Columbus Parkway
June 5 • 2 p.m.
Meet: 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.
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.
Five Presidents in Buffalo
June 6, 13, 20, 27 • 10 a.m.
Meet: 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.
City of Light Bus Tour
June 10, 25 • 1 p.m.
Meet: Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo
General Admission $40, Explorer Pass Holders $35
At the end of the 19th century, Buffalo was a major American city in the forefront of technological progress. It was a busy inland port and a railroad hub with heavy industry and state-of-the-art electricity – all of which brought great wealth to the city. These economic and technological developments culminated in 1901 when Buffalo hosted a spectacular world’s fair: the Pan-American Exposition. Experience Buffalo through the eyes of the narrator of Lauren Belfer’s historical novel, City of Light, which is set in Buffalo at the dawn of the 20th century.
Scandalous Buffalo
June 12 • 10 a.m.
Meet: Spot Coffee, 227 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
Join us 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!
Buildings and Baseball: Family Fun Day
June 12 • 10 a.m.
Meet: One James D. Griffin Plaza, Buffalo, outside the Swan Street gate of Coca-Cola Field.
Adult General Admission $20, Adult Explorer Pass Admission $15, Child Admission $10
Come early before a Buffalo Bisons game to take a family-friendly tour of downtown Buffalo! This walking tour of downtown will give children an introduction to some of our city’s most beautiful buildings, including the Ellicott Square Building, Guaranty Building, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Along the way, learn some fun facts about each building’s design, construction and history.
By coming early for the game, you’ll be able to find a great parking place downtown. After the tour, there’ll be plenty of time to get lunch at the stadium before the first pitch at 1:05. It’s the perfect way for a family to spend a day downtown! Included with this tour is the Bisons game ticket, and a copy of the Explore Buffalo downtown children’s workbook for each child.
Williamsville by Bike
June 12 • 2 p.m.
Meet: Williamsville Water Mill, 56 East Spring St., Williamsville
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
Join us on this bike tour of history-rich Williamsville! Originally established as William’s Mills, this tour includes one of the oldest buildings still standing in Erie County, the 1811 Williamsville Water Mill built by Jonas Williams. Also featured in the tour is the village’s role in the War of 1812 and the 1871 Village Meeting House. Today, Williamsville is leading the charge among local municipalities to become more pedestrian friendly. Learn about plans to transform the village streetscape on this tour.
Twilight Tour of Homes
June 16 • 5 to 9 p.m.
Meet: Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo
Tickets: $35 advance general sales (up to June 11), $30 advance sales to TR Site members and Explore Buffalo season pass holders (up to June 11), $40 all tickets week of the tour (beginning June 12), $75 VIP ticket package. VIP guests will enjoy an exclusive pre-tour experience with drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the historic Marcy Casino in Delaware Park.
The 2016 Twilight Tour is moving to a new neighborhood! Join Explore Buffalo and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site on Thursday, June 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. for a relaxed go-at-your-own-pace walking tour that features interior access to historic homes in the Chapin and Lincoln Parkway neighborhood. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted as grand approaches to Delaware Park, these parkways are some of Buffalo’s most sought-after addresses. Built in the early half of the 1900s, the homes on these parkways display a wide variety of architectural styles but all have compelling stories to tell. We expect this tour to sell out, so buy your tickets now! Reservations made online only at www.trsite.org.
East Aurora
June 17 • 10 a.m.
Meet: Roycroft Power House, 39 South Grove St., East Aurora
General Admission $15, Student Admission $10, Explorer Pass Holders $5
Join us for a walking tour of the charming Village of East Aurora to discover its rich history and many connections to the Arts and Crafts movement! Elbert Hubbard, one-time partner of John Larkin of Buffalo’s Larkin Soap Company, was one of the chief promoters of the Arts and Crafts style in architecture, furniture, stained glass, wallpaper, and other hand crafts in the United States. The base of Hubbard’s operations was the Roycroft Campus in the Village of East Aurora, where this tour begins and ends. The tour will include interior visits to the Hubbard Museum, featuring an engaging variety of handcrafted antiques, as well as the Baker Memorial Church, featuring a complete set of color-rich stained glass windows by the Tiffany Company. At the end of the tour, the Roycroft Inn is the perfect place for an optional lunch (not included in the tour price).
Kleinhans Music Hall: Inside and Out
June 18 • 10 a.m.
Meet: Statue of Chopin outside of Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo
General Admission $25, Student Admission $20, Explorer Pass Holders $20, TR Site Members $20
Get an in-depth look at Buffalo’s world-famous music hall! Explore the interior spaces and iconic exterior of Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark designed by renowned architects Eliel & Eero Saarinen, with assistance from designer Charles Eames. It is a modern masterpiece, home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for nearly 75 years. In 2016, Kleinhans Music Hall had its biggest interior rehabilitation since the 1960s, including new seats and carpeting. Included in admission is a Kleinhans Music Hall commemorative book by Brian Carter.
Downtown Lockport
June 18 • 1 p.m.
Meet: Flight of Five Winery in Old City Hall, 2 Pine St., Lockport
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer 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.
Harbor Highlights by Bike
June 26 • 2 p.m.
Meet: Whipple Truss Bridge at Canalside, next to the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, 1 Park Cove, Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
See the incredible transformation happening all along the city’s Outer Harbor waterfront on this tour! Join us to explore Buffalo’s Outer Harbor along trails that were recently built, providing a scenic journey from the 1833 Buffalo Harbor Lighthouse all the way to Tifft Farm Nature Preserve. The tour will start by taking the new Bike Ferry from Canalside to the Outer Harbor to visit the 1833 Lighthouse and discuss Lake Erie and harbor built of Onondaga limestone. From there, the tour will bike through and discuss the history and current wildlife preserve at Times Beach.
The tour will continue on to Wilkeson Point Park, talk about the Buffalo River, Inner Harbor, and the original sea wall, now Fuhrmann Boulevard, before moving on to the Industrial Heritage Trail to discuss shipping on the Erie Canal and Great Lakes, along with history and evolution of the grain industry in Buffalo. Next will be the Small Boat Harbor and exciting new prospects for the former Freezer Queen site, Gallagher Beach, and the new Buffalo Harbor State Park. The tour will proceed to Tifft Nature Preserve with a look at Buffalo’s future, as the new Solar City project is located on the former Republic Steel site behind Tifft Nature Preserve. The tour will end with taking the Bike Ferry back to Canalside. Please bring $2 exact change to take the bike ferry across the Buffalo River from Canalside and then return.
Elmwood Village Victorians
June 28 • 6 p.m.
Meet: Perks Coffee, 448 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo
General Admission $15, Student Admission $5, Explorer Pass Holders Free
Exploring the streets of the Elmwood Village, we 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.
Beautiful Banks of Buffalo
June 30 • 1 p.m.
Meet: Main and Seneca streets in downtown Buffalo, in front of One Seneca Tower.
General Admission $25, Student Admission $20, Explorer Pass Holders $20
Buffalo has a rich history of banking. On this tour, learn about the banks that helped to make Buffalo prosperous and inventive. As important as the history are the beautiful bank buildings that are part of our architectural assets admired around the world. This tour of bank buildings will focus on interior spaces. Some are still operating as banks and some now serve a different purpose. Many of these interiors are not available to the public and are only accessible on this tour.
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.
For more information and reservations, please visit www.explorebuffalo.org or call (716) 245-3032.
