All posts by Brad

RESERVE YOUR TOUR NOW!

Locals and visitors usually fall in love with Buffalo’s highly decorated buildings such as the Guaranty Building (1896), City Hall (1931) and, of course, churches. These same people often find Modern architecture like City Court (1974) and Main Place Mall (1969) bland and boring by comparison.

In reaction to Modern architecture, from the mid-1970s to the end of the twentieth century, there was a return to color and ornament in new buildings including the Buffalo Bisons Stadium, the Buffalo Savings Bank Annex, and the Flickinger Athletic Center. This style is known as Postmodern and this tour will focus on the ornamentation and color in a number of those and other Postmodern buildings, including Lafayette Court, Key Center at Fountain Plaza, and City Centre skyscrapers.

This tour meets at the Western New York Book Arts Center at 468 Washington Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, at the corner of Washington and Mohawk Streets. Two-hour metered parking is available on surrounding streets, and the Mohawk Parking Ramp is on the opposite corner. The Lafayette Square Station of the Metro Rail is around the corner on Main Street.

TOUR DETAILS:

  • Advance reservations are encouraged but not required for this tour.
    • 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 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.
  • This tour is between ninety minutes and two hours in length.
  • Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather – the tour will proceed rain or shine.
  • Cameras are encouraged!

African-American history in Buffalo is centered in the neighborhood surrounding the Michigan Street Baptist Church. Join us for a tour of important locations in this neighborhood to learn about the major milestones in African-American history in Buffalo, as well as how this affected national history. Buffalo has played a major role in African American history, from the days of the Underground Railroad to the formation of the Niagara Movement, a precursor to the NAACP. This tour includes an interior tour of the Michigan Street Baptist Church, Nash House Museum, and Colored Musicians Club Museum, three important landmarks in this neighborhood.

Meet in the parking lot adjacent to the Colored Musicians Club Museum at 145 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14203, at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Broadway.

Cost:

  • General Admission: $25
  • Explorer Pass Admission: $20
  • Proceeds from this tour are shared with the Michigan Street Baptist Church, Nash House Museum, and Colored Musicians Club Museum.

Tour Details:

  • Advance reservations are encouraged but not required for this tour.
    • 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 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.
  • This tour is approximately two and a half to three hours in length.
  • Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather – the tour will proceed rain or shine.
    • During inclement weather, the tour is mostly indoors – you can learn the history of the neighborhood from the Nashes’ living room!
  • Cameras are encouraged!
  • See our FAQs page for our refund policy and answers to other questions. 

RESERVE YOUR TOUR NOW!

Shea’s Buffalo Theater opened in 1926 as the jewel of Michael Shea’s movie theater empire in Buffalo.  With no expense spared in its construction, the theater was designed by Rapp & Rapp from Chicago, with an interior designed by Tiffany Studios. Today, Shea’s Performing Arts Center is at the heart of Buffalo’s Theater District, hosting some of the most popular touring productions in the country. The ornate interior has been painstakingly restored, and this tour will showcase the results of this restoration. The tour will be led by Restoration Consultant Doris Collins, who will explain the details of the restoration process during this in-depth tour of one of Buffalo’s favorite landmarks.

Space on this tour is limited, and reservations are required. There will be two one-hour tours offered on Tuesday, June 20, at 5:30 and 7:00 PM.