Declared a National Historic Site in 1986, this collection of 14 buildings is the legacy of Elbert Hubbard, the visionary writer and printer who more than 100 years ago founded a utopian arts and crafts community based on the principles of the medieval guilds. Located in the Village of East Aurora about 30 minutes south of downtown Buffalo, the campus includes such buildings as the recently renovated Roycroft Inn, and the Roycroft Shops. Guided tours of the campus are available July-September daily by appointment; the fees go towards building restorations.
President Millard Fillmore both built and lived in this house from 1826-30 and as such, this museum in the Village of East Aurora has been designated a National Historic Site. It contains many of the period pieces from that era, including the President's bed and antique toys. Originally purchased in 1930 to be used as a studio by artist Margaret Price (of Fisher Price toy fame), the house was bought by the Aurora Historical Society in 1975. Visitors can see the original pantry with tin ware and pottery, restored fireplace, the Presidential Rose Garden with pre-1840 varieties, and carriage barn.
Opened in 1849, the Forest Lawn Cemetery is a 267-acre (108 hectares) property that serves as the gravesite of some of the city's most important citizens. Buried here are former U.S. President Millard Fillmore, Indian Chief Red Jacket, from whom the land to create the city of Buffalo was purchased and Pony Express pioneer William Fargo, to name a few. You can stop at the office inside the main entrance for a self-guiding map. Bird watching and Sunday hayride-style tours of the beautiful grounds are also available.
The Darwin D. Martin House Complex is one of the several historic buildings built by Frank Lloyd Wright in and around Buffalo. Located near Delaware Park, the building is a good example of Wright's Prairie style. Other structures on the complex include the Barton House, with original interior wood and art glass, a covered walkway connecting the main house with the conservatory and a gardener's cottage.
Considered among the best in the city when it comes to modern and contemporary 20th-century art, this gallery has a rich selection of works by artists like Sol Lewitt, René Magritte, and Mark Rothko. The Delaware Park gallery also features outstanding work from the 17th-19th Centuries. In addition to the gallery, the center also includes a gift shop and the Garden Restaurant for a bite to eat after all that culture.
This multi-use arena located Buffalo's downtown waterfront is where the Sabres, Bandits, Blizzards and Destroyers play. From hockey and lacrosse to soccer, football and even concerts, this venue can host almost any event on the planet. The 20,000 seats in the state-of-the-art entertainment complex never have an obstructed view with the massive Jumbotron that dominates the ceiling. For food, try the Lexus Club restaurant and if you are in the pavilion, don't forget to visit the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
Presenting an educational union of drama and culture, the Jewish Repertory Theatre is a professional stage that endeavors to share Jewish culture and to celebrate Jewish playwrights with the Western New York community. While the plays focus on issues important to the Jewish community, they also relate the drama of the universal human experience, speaking to a diverse audience and bringing both Jews and non-Jews together to enjoy the performing arts. Additionally, check out the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, also located in Getzville, which has day care for children, water sports for the family, and fitness and recreational facilities.
This stone building, built in 1843 as a church meeting house, houses the collection of the Clarence Historical Society. Items include WWI and WWII artifacts, memorabilia from area churches and an automotive display, as the building once housed the local auto club. The technology wing, added in the mid-1990's, features the original red barn where Clarence resident, Wilson Greatbach, invented the implantable heart pacemaker in the 1950's. On the grounds of the museum is an 1825 log cabin, one of the oldest buildings in Clarence, which was moved here from the northern part of the town. – Christine A. Smyczynski
Home to the Irish Classical Theatre Company and named after a prominent culturally-active local family, this spectacular performing arts complex in the Buffalo Theater District has already established itself as one of the best in Western New York. From its intimate seating (none of its 200 seats is more than 12 feet from the stage) to its unimpeded sight lines, from the perfect acoustics to its arena-style stage, the space has won the hearts of both locals and visitors.
A tribute to the vision of Father Nelson H. Baker, this church was the second in the U.S. to receive a basilica designation in 1926. Located in Lackawanna, the basilica's copper-topped dome and twin bell towers can be seen for miles. The church was built reminiscent of the 15th-16th century Renaissance-style, featuring a French Baroque interior. There is a gift shop where you can buy books, crucifixes, mugs and Father Baker's most popular statue of Our Lady of Victory.
World-renowned for being one of the first true "skyscrapers," because of the use of a full steel frame, this building was the design of famous American architect Louis Sullivan, and opened in 1895. The terra-cotta facade is very ornate, featuring geometric designs as well as foliage. Inside, the original lobby skylights and tile mosaics remain intact. Saved from the wrecking ball in the 1980s by local citizens, this beautiful edifice is also known locally by the name it bore for much of its earlier life: the Prudential Building.