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The Buffalo History Museum

3.9 (47 reviews)
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Kinnie I.

Update on 12/7/24. Another great visit to the Buffalo history Museum today. This time to see some of the political cartoons drawn by artist Adam Zyglis in the past 20 years. He is a native of Western New York. His editorial cartoons are insightful. Lending one to think deeply about social and political issues of the day. There is no fee for admission at this museum. The suggested donation is $10 per person and it's well worth it.

The historical grounds surrounding the museum
Jami E.

The grounds of the museum is a destination itself, the Japanese garden is beautiful as are the cherry blossoms this time of year. The walk continued down the bike path which follows along the historical Scajaquada creek. Buffalo has a wonderful parks system I encourage visitors to look up its history. I'm excited to return & review the museum itself.

Native American greeting
Dot K.

I visited on a Saturday in February and found a parking spot by the entrance. The building is very beautiful and so is the landscaping. I found many interesting exhibits to view. Our history is covered from Native American culture to present day. The Apostle clock, located on the first floor, is amazing to watch. I love coming here in the spring when the trees are in blossom. It's breathtaking.

Steven C.

This is a national class museum, which transcends regional culture and local historical artifacts. It explores Western New York's role and larger society, including Haudenoshonee Native American events in the context of the Civil War, the emergence of the Erie Canal, and Great Lakes in national and international shipping and of course the role of Western New York, and the national sports scene. Displays are very nicely presented. All ages will be entertained and educated. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful.

Don Burns; WPA Workers; 1939; oil on canvas
Paul L.

This museum tells a slightly better and more inclusive story of Buffalo's history than it did not too many years ago. Displays are more organized and thoughtful but the overall experience here remains one that is minus the technical tools to lay out the breadth and depth of this region. More interior space has been carved from moribund square footage but it still won't be enough space to even scratch the surface of this city.

a brougham and a Fresnel lamp
Elizabeth Betsy B.

If you have never (like me) been to the Buffalo History Museum, or haven't been there in a long time, now is a great time to go. Currently, admission is "pay what you wish," though they suggest a $10 donation for adults. Admission with an Arts Access pass for people with disabilities is always free. Three floors of displays enable experiencing Buffalo and Erie County in ways that are educational and entertaining. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Gallery on the upper level will delight the sports fan. The Train Gallery on the lower level will thrill visitors of all ages. The Research Library on the main level is available to all with an interest in our area's founding, settling, development, and future. So much to see; so much to do. You will want to return often. Special events and new displays make this museum always a work in progress. Be sure to check out the gift shop. It's never too early to find that special Christmas or birthday gift.

Woohoo! Loved the Buffalo Sports exhibit
Krista M.

I stopped at The Buffalo History Museum on my way back from a visit to the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site back in January. I had visited a few times before and was pleased to see the museum and its exhibits are undergoing some renovations. Before I discuss the exhibits, I'd be remiss to not talk about the building itself and its surroundings. The beautiful Hoyt Lake and Japanese Gardens are not to be missed! Now that we've explored the outside, it's time to enter the gorgeous historic building. The building is stunning and I can marvel at the building itself for quite a while. On the chilly January day I visited, reservations were required and there was free admission. It looks like admission is "pay what you want" currently. Perhaps that will change after the renovations? I really enjoyed all of the exhibits because I love Buffalo and I love Buffalo history. However, some were indeed better than others. My favorites included the Buffalo Sports history, Tim Russert, how the city has transformed, and I also liked the railroad set on the bottom level. I'm looking forward to visiting again when the renovations are done. Speaking of renovations, when it reopens be sure to check out the nearby Albright Knox Art Gallery that is also undergoing a major renovation!

Japanese folk dance
Lynette S.

What is not to like about the museuem? It's a beautiful building, in a beautiful setting. Take a walk around the Japanese garden, learn some history about Buffalo - it's time well spent. They've recently undergone significant renovation and the ground floor it's now accessible after many years of neglect. I attended the Japan Culture Day and I didn't spend too much time exploring the regular displays aside from the model railroad. It's on my to do list for a winter outing.

Nikki G.

I love museums. It could be anything obscure or mainstream, but whatever it is I want to learn about it. The Buffalo History Museum is a great place to check out Buffalo's history. The building is absolutely stunning. I love art deco and the main room that contains the stairs and piano is wonderful. The ground around the building are also a sight to behold, including the Japanese garden and the portico is fantastic. I enjoy walking around the exhibits. The Buffalo sports exhibit provides interaction and is a fun atmosphere. I like seeing Tim Russert's desk as well. There is also Native American artifacts, and Buffalo momentums from the past. The exhibit I saw downstairs included items that had been restored. I liked viewing all of the paintings. The train exhibit it also fun to look at. Also, they have free parking and lots of parking, which is always a plus when visiting a museum. Do check out their gift shop. Museum gift shops are always the best and have a bunch of unique items. From now until the end of the year The Buffalo History Museum is free to attend, but do make a donation.

Decorated for winter holidays.
Jim G.

This treasure trove covers everything from Native America times to the present. The gift shop is excellent.

Buffalo History Museum Sweethearts Dance
Diane H.

The third Friday of the month is always free admission with free parking in the lot.The museum is very interesting and educational. They have Party On the Portico in the summer months which is always fun with a different band entertaining you each time.The Japanese Cherry Blossom festival is always breathtakingly beautiful, as is walking around hoyt lake.I attended the first annual Sweethearts Dance which was 50's inspired and had plenty of music , dancing , hors d'oeuvre and desserts and was such a amazing night out.

View from the upper level
Vicky B.

The Buffalo History museum does a great job of showcasing some of Buffalo's history. It falls short on being interactive, and could be improved with more kid-friendly exhibits. There are three levels, accessible by stairs or elevator. On the ground level they host events and have an auditorium. This space also houses special exhibits, which was on women's suffrage and a connection to key women in Buffalo who played a role. On the lower level, almost half of it is dedicated to a model train, another part is store fronts with pretty interesting looking antiques, and the other room was dedicated to famous people from Erie County. There's also a play space down here for kids. On the upper level the Ralph Wilson room housed a ton of Buffalo sports history. There was also a small space dedicated to Native Americans, and another room dedicated to immigrants in WNY. The museum is in an impressive building and houses a lot of antiques and interesting artifacts, but some of the displays fell short of my expectations. The Ralph Wilson room looked fantastic, and had an interactive component (try to be a sports announcer!) but most of the museum did not have too many opportunities to be interactive. There was a lot to go through, and we spent 2 hours going through it all.

Buffalo History Museum
Denise H.

Lots to do and see here, the third Friday of the month is free and there is always plenty of free parking in their lot.It's always nice to visit when the Japanese Cherry Blossom festival is going on , it's so pretty.Plus just strolling around hoyt lake is incredible. In the summer months they have a Party on the Portico event which is a fun event with a different band playing each time.Recently I attended their first annual Sweathesrts Dance, it was live music and dancing with a 50's motif, it included hors d'oeuvres desserts and was very entertaining.

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Very cute museum. It's pay what you will. Great option on a hotter/colder temperature day.

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Review Highlights - The Buffalo History Museum

The ground around the building are also a sight to behold, including the Japanese garden and the portico is fantastic.

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Buffalo Museum of Science - Triceratops

Buffalo Museum of Science

3.9(86 reviews)
2.6 miEastside

LIKED: This historic…read morebuilding boasts ample parking, a wealth of historic artifacts, and convenient access due to its proximity to a major highway. WOULD HAVE LIKED: - The exhibits could be more appealing to adults instead of students. Many of the exhibits seem to be designed for elementary and middle school students rather than adults. - A more reasonable price. The current $23 fee appears excessive considering the value provided during a visit.

I loved all the interactive games where you can learn while having fun. Building race cars,…read morefeeling a tornado force wind, engineering building paper rockets that soared through the room...so many fun projects. The exhibit rooms are spacious with interesting facts explaining what you're seeing from woven baskets to a giant polar bear. We explored space and the time of the dinosaurs. I was there with a 6 month old and I have to say they have it set up nice for parents to care for young ones from places for diaper changes to breast feeding. Impressive. There's a large room for quiet time and a snack bar for all your children's needs. Easy free parking is a plus, no hassle getting in or out. We did go up to the rooftop deck but it was closed, so was the planetarium but it didn't matter there was plenty to see and do. The Buffalo Museum of Science is FUN!

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Buffalo Museum of Science - Buffalo Museum of Science,  Mummy's of the World The Exhibition  VIP Opening Party

Buffalo Museum of Science, Mummy's of the World The Exhibition VIP Opening Party

Buffalo Museum of Science - Family time at the museum

Family time at the museum

Buffalo Museum of Science

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Buffalo AKG Art Museum - One of her many pumpkins

Buffalo AKG Art Museum

4.1(167 reviews)
0.2 miBuffalo State/Museums
$$

For a solid year, I wanted to go to a first Friday at the AKG. I didn't want to be there one to…read moreattempt Buffalo driving (we circled around to parallel park at 430) and needed someone to echo my musings. Well, I finally made it! We went through check in, where you had to fork over a suggested donation (instead of the usual 22 dollars). They take card, though we gave cash, which seemed like an easier way to exercise the discount. They offered an extra paid section to opt into for an extra 8 dollar charge that we turned down, taking our tiny tags. They're dinky and reusable and gotta attach somewhere to your person. She had also given me a wristband for the strap of Duckles, which had to be checked by a second girl who warned me that I could not wear my knapsack on my back. Could make it a tummy sack or an elbow purse to avoid bumping things, which is how I ended up cradling a stuffed duck around the museum. We hadn't nabbed a map and thought we could wing it. There are qr codes scattered about for info beyond the placards and finding where you have landed. We lucked out and scored a paper map abandoned on one of the numerous benches (there's also chairs and pull out chairs hanging for your resting pleasure) that we attempted to read. My directionally challenged self asked one of the security to send us off to the bridge, given two choices of route. We dodged the scenic way for a temporary outdoor escape, passing more art. Popping back inside we absorbed even more subsets of time and genre, respecting drawn boundaries and only touching things that said we could. There were things that touched us, our souls, that we could take photos of. There were also bizarre things and a bit of nudity. It's all art, including the special presentations and live music and everyday artists sketching in the hall. There was an interactive exhibit in the main that we skipped in the name of rumbling tummies, though we didn't try the cafe. Also avoided the gift shop, cutting out as the crowd began to swell around 6. The place was impeccably clean despite the abundance of windows and smudge worthy doors. It was worth coming out, though I'm unsure how often the exhibits rotate. Come see an authentic famous few and many more that'll have you saying the Albright is pretty *alright*.

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is our local pride, and requires no advertising or persuasion to visit…read more Believe me, it's a fantastic destination. It's a beautiful space with a nice collection of fine arts. There is a new, three-story extension, a whole new building actually. So, be sure to have plenty of time to explore everything. Their website is very informative and easy to navigate. Check out the current special events and exhibitions. Currently, among others, on display is the "One with Eternity" by Yayoi Kusama, which includes her two Infinity Mirror Rooms and "Pumpkin", a giant orange pumpkin in an orange room covered with black dots. Tickets for this exhibition must be purchased separately and are valid for specific time slots. If there is a big crowd that day, wait a little and don't come from the beginning of your time slot (or figure this out by yourself). We had to leave and come back after a ridiculous experience. Waiting twenty minutes in line to see the actual installation for forty five seconds!? It was very confusing, and I believe there must be a different way to actually enjoy Kusama's work. We came back to see the second room with no wait, but still, with the forty five seconds rule. Ugh... Yes, let's loop if this is the only way which works. Don't forget, the general museum admission is free on the first Friday of the month, and I like that price.

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Buffalo AKG Art Museum - Marisol; Baby Girl; 1963; wood and mixed media

Marisol; Baby Girl; 1963; wood and mixed media

Buffalo AKG Art Museum - Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock

Buffalo AKG Art Museum - Jaume Plensa; Laura; 2012; macael marble, lead, stainless steel

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Jaume Plensa; Laura; 2012; macael marble, lead, stainless steel

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural  National Historic Site

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

4.3(64 reviews)
2.3 miAllentown, Main Street

Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site is located in Allentown. This is another…read morehistoric building on the National Registry. The small yet interesting building had lots of information on Roosevelt. A small talk/tour was in session when I entered. The docent relayed information to the visitors. The gift shop had many Roosevelt related gifts. No charge to enter. Street parking available.

I try to fill my trips out of town with some history and educational stuff of places I have never…read morebeen to or even heard of. When I finally decided to where I would be going I started to look around and see what was catch my interest. This fit the bill. What drew me in was that it had to do with one of our Presidents, fairly cheap on the pocketbook ($12), and easy parking (free and onsite). You can enter the lot from the front or from behind, I suggest from behind as it is easier to access the lot and you won't have to deal with the drive up ATM from the bank. You enter from the back of the building as well, whether you walk up from the street or park in the lot. Try to check the site before showing up and see if the tour times are listed. There is not entry into the space unless you are on a tour. I know, kind of weird, and a bit annoying, but that is how they do it here and that is how you gain access, only on a tour. Pay attention to the tour. Depending on the volunteer (yes, they are volunteers) you have, it can go fast. They are full of information and will tell you more about the house than you can pick up from the informational displays throughout. Pictures area allowed and I suggest taking plenty of them. Sometimes when you go back to them you might catch something you missed when you were initially there. A little about the house, as the name of this establishment tells you, it was used for the inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt. One of only a handful of places outside of the Capitol that would host an event like this. An ordinary house that housed a family and occasional guests over the years ended up being a historic place that fell into shambles and became restored. After President McKinley was shot and ultimately was assassinated President Roosevelt took the oath of office in the library of the house. For a short time, this also served as the White House I suppose. Roosevelt meeting with his inherited Cabinet in the dining room. After the inauguration the house passed through the family and was sold. It became a restaurant up until the 70s and then sat unused and started to crumble. There was movement to tear this place down, but a group made sure to save it and now it is ran by the National Parks Services. They were able to restore the place to what it looked like at the time, only a few things in the house are original to the house. One of the bookcases in the library and one of the chandeliers in the house are told to you. Upstairs is a different set up. One room upstairs houses an exhibit on the history of the house. It goes through the timeline of it being a family home, to the restaurant, and the now historic landmark. Another room has a mock up of what Theodore Roosevelt's Presidential Office would have looked like. You can "play" in here. You can sit at the desk and pretend to be President for a day. If you are looking for something to do in the Buffalo area to kill time or just to enjoy your day, stop by here. You will not regret it and you will learn something new.

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Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural  National Historic Site
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural  National Historic Site
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural  National Historic Site

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Burchfield Penney Art Center - Charles Burchfield; Telegraph Music; 1949; watercolor and ink on paper

Burchfield Penney Art Center

4.0(45 reviews)
0.3 miBuffalo State/Museums

In Buffalo and the entire Western New York region, everyone ought to know Charles E. Burchfield. I…read moream certain that those interested in art have heard of him as well. He's recognized as one of the most distinguished American painters. Charles Rand Penney was a Buffalo native who donated his collection of Western New York Art, including 183 works by Charles E. Burchfield. The Burchfield Penney Art Center is dedicated to works by Burchfield and by regional artists. You'll see those active in the previous and the contemporary century. The Burchfield Penney functions as a gallery and a museum, serving as an institution affiliated with the Buffalo State University. For this reason, many events are related to education and personal development. It is worth checking what is happening and which events align with your individual needs and interests. Either way, it is definitely a place worth visiting. It's New York's first green museum certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's (LEED) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. It's a two-story open and bright space, pretty great to be honest :). On the second Friday of every month, admission is free. "Be ready for special events, music, workshops, happy hours and more!" It's also free for Burchfield Penney members, Buffalo State University Students, Faculty & Staff, United States and Canada Active Military and their families, United States Military Veterans, ASI Arts Access Pass holders, and children and teens under 18 years old.

A large, bright, two-story museum with several galleries on both floors…read more Unlike many museums which have no art created after 1870? This one will be displaying artwork solicited last year from local artists. Check their website for listings of rotating exhibits and openings.hh

Photos
Burchfield Penney Art Center - Jazz band setting up

Jazz band setting up

Burchfield Penney Art Center - Jazz band up above

Jazz band up above

Burchfield Penney Art Center

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The Buffalo History Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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