Buffalo Tourist Attractions

Olmsted's South Park, the 1894 tri-domed glass conservatory building, and the Victorian-style gardens of plants are found within the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Some of the year-round highlights are the orchid house, bromeliad house, herb collection, and waterfall. Some of the plants are native to the area but most are native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The indoor gardens include a fully restored palm dome, an impressive fern house which is home to "life-size" dinosaur topiaries and a koi pond.The gardens were originally opened for the 1900 Pan American Exposition. The conservatory's unique tri-domed glass, wood and steel design was based upon the famous Crystal Palace and Kew Gardens Palm House in England.

Laid out in 1804, this was part of a radical street plan with the municipal center at Niagara Square. It was designed by Joseph Ellicott, a representative of the Holland Land Company and first developer of Buffalo.In 1825, over 30,000 people gathered in the Square for the hanging of Israel, Nelson and Isaac Thayer - they were convicted of the murder of John Love.

David Anderson purchased an abandoned elementary school in Buffalo's University District, which he renovated, and added a two-story glass-walled addition. Today the Anderson Gallery consists of a first floor with four galleries, and a second floor space which includes an exhibition hallway and a glass-walled sculpture gallery. The Gallery and numerous art works were donated to the University of Buffalo in 2000.The Gallery shows regularly changing exhibitions of post-war period works.

The Buffalo Museum of Science was founded in 1861 to trace natural and human history. Dinosaurs, insects, humans, and space are some of the displays and hands-on exhibits. The collections at the Buffalo Museum of Science include anthropology, botany, entomology, mycology, paleontology and zoology. A large portion of the museum's collection and displays related to the Greater Niagara Region.

Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is home to guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG-4), destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537), and Submarine USS Croaker (SSK-246). Visitors can experience how mariners and submariners lived and carried out their patriotic duties. Displays include aircraft, ship models and airplane models.

The Tri-Main Center is housed in a former windshield wiper factory. The facility features three galleries, a cinema, performance theater, video library, and media editing suite. It is home to Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, just buffalo literary center, Buffalo Art Studios, Buffalo Inner City Ballet and Impact Artists' Gallery.

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo is housed in a Greek Revival building and features modern and contemporary art. It holds a strong collection of pieces. Post-war American and European art is especially notable with such names as Gorky, Pollock, Warhol, and Johns. The museum shows regularly changing exhibits.

The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is dedicated to the art and culture of Western New York. The largest collection of Charles Burchfield's art is housed within the center as well as over 6,000 works by other artists. Burchfield is known for his unique watercolor paintings of nature and American subjects.

Another of Buffalo's fine buildings, this 1906 glazed terra-cotta structure is Art Nouveau in style and was designed by Esenwein & Johnson. The Calumet is a ceremonial peace pipe that was a hallmark for the Calumet Club, located on the third floor.

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site is the spot where Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office on September 14, 1901. The site was renovated and upgraded in 2009 to include new exhibits. Visitors can learn about the history of this important moment in time and take a new tour.

Three brick row houses, circa 1845, were built at 396 Pearl Street in Buffalo with parapet gables and connecting stables behind. The corner home is all that stands today, a reminder of a common Buffalo type building.

These cast iron and brick commercial buildings on Pearl Street were typical of the 19th C. They were built between 1870 and 1890 to house cabinetry and furniture manufacturers, and are an interesting part of Buffalo's history.

The Austin Building, also known as the Title Guarantee Building, was built in 1833. Erected originally as the First Unitarian Church, this Greek Revival structure is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Buffalo.

Fire memorabilia is on display at the Buffalo Fire Historical Society Museum including hand-drawn equipment and fire artifacts. The museum is dedicated to the history of fire fighting in Buffalo.

This baseball only stadium features a metal roof, arched openings and a turn of the century appearance through a rusticated stone effect. Coca-Cola Field is home to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, who are part of the International League.

The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums at Porter Hall in Buffalo houses a large collection of historical manuscripts, documents and artifacts. It also features changing exhibitions on a range of topics.

The French Renaissance style of Lafayette Hotel was designed by Louise Blanchard Bethune in 1904. She was America's first licensed woman architect. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Lower Lakes Marine Historical Society Museum is located in the former Howard H. Baker Ship Chandlery. The collection features marine photos, models, documents and displays.

Tifft Nature Preserve is a 264 acre natural habitat that includes nature trails, a wildflower garden and a cattail marsh. Picnicking, fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are allowed.

This luxury complex, City Centre Condominiums, began in 1992 and features apartments and condominiums.

This is one of the two remaining cyclorama buildings in the United States. It was built in 1888 and displays a three-dimensional panoramic exhibit.

Delaware Park offers tennis, cycling and golf opportunities. It is also home to the Buffalo Zoological Gardens and the Buffalo Historical Society.

This Renaissance-Revival style building was built in 1893 by E B Green and W S Wicks. It stands on the site of Buffalo's first school.

Dunn Tire Park is the home field of the Cleveland Indians' Triple-A team, the Buffalo Bisons. It was built to resemble an old-fashioned ballpark.

Built in 1835, the court house was designed by E B Green in the Art Deco style that became popular after the Depression.

Forest Lawn was founded in 1849 and has over 250 acres. Visitors enjoy the beautiful scenery and can view the Blocher, Cleveland and Fillmore grave sites.

One of the world's first skyscrapers, the Guaranty Building was built in 1895. It was designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan.

Built in 1921 on the site of Millard Fillmore's residence by George B Post & Sons, it was the second hotel built by local innkeeper Ellsworth M Statler.

Built between 1969-74, this thirty-two story building is the highest building in Buffalo.

This High-Victorian granite structure was completed in 1876. It was designed by A J Warener.

This granite structure was built in 1894 in Flemish Gothic design. It was designed by Jeremiah O'Rourke, William M Aiken and James Knox Taylor.

The Gothic Revival style church was built in 1851 by Patrick C Keeley. The Old Cathedral is home to a Hook and Hastings Organ which found residence here in 1877.

This is the oldest surviving building in downtown Buffalo. It was originally built in 1833 as the First Unitarian Church.

Olmsted Parks was designed by landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted.