Experiencing history with you

by remembering, discovering, and sharing our stories; sparking emotional and social connections within our unique community.

1872 Hopkins Atlas Plate

1872


A map of buildings and owners in what we know as Canalside today. In 1872, when this map was made, Buffalo’s canal district was a dense, roiling center of commerce, industry, transportation, immigration, wealth, poverty, crime, and disease.

Red Jacket Medal

1792


Peace medal presented to Seneca orator Red Jacket by President George Washington in Philadelphia in 1792. The medal bears symbolic imagery of peaceful coexistence between the United States and Native Americans.

Apostolic Clock

1881


An iconic timepiece created over the span of 35 years as a passion project by local engineer Myles Hughes. Before his death in 1923, he donated it to The Buffalo History Museum to be shared with the community. Like many late 19th century monumental clocks, its design was inspired by the Strasbourg Cathedral Clock of 1842. Apostles parade around Jesus every half hour with Peter turning his back to Jesus.

Pan-Am Night Scene Panoramic

1901


In 1901 when the Pan-American Exposition opened, the sheer volume and color of electric lights, designed to be experienced after dark, was a new experience for Americans. This view, looking north from the Triumphal Bridge, includes the Temple of Music, Machinery and Transportation Buildings, Court of Fountains, Electric Tower, Manufactures Building, Liberal Arts and Ethnology Building, and part of the Government Building.

Evelyn Rumsey Cary Suffrage Poster

1905


This poster was a favorite of the women’s suffrage movement. Created by Evelyn Rumsey Cary (1855-1924) of Buffalo, it is an elegant example of Art Nouveau graphic design, depicting a female figure transformed into a fruit tree. The building behind her may be based on the east façade of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

Iver-Johnson Revolver

ca. 1901


Iver-Johnson, 32 caliber, nickel plated revolver used by Leon Czolgosz to assassinate President William McKinley outside the Temple of Music at the Pan American Exposition.

Grover Cleveland’s Cake Box & Cake

1886


Cake box given as a wedding favor to the guests of the wedding of President Grover Cleveland to Frances Folsom in the White House on June 2, 1886. Inside the box there is still a portion of the dark cake that was given to the guests.

Help keep our history alive.

When you support The Buffalo History Museum, you make inspiration and discovery happen. Ensure that the stories of today and the past are preserved and accessible for generations to come.

Make a Donation

Pony Coat

1919–1920


This overcoat belonged to Henry J. Miller. He was very close with his horse, Skip, and when Skip passed away in 1919, Henry had him made into this overcoat.

Larkin Photo in Atrium


The Larkin Administration Building was the first major commercial commission in Frank Lloyd Wright’s career. The central court shown here provided natural light to all five floors. The Larkin Building was demolished in 1950.

Scott Norwood Helmet

1985–1991


Scott Norwood’s only helmet worn in Super Bowl XXV, SB XXVI, Pro Bowl, regular season and playoff games from 1985-1991. It is part of the Greg D. Tranter Collection of Buffalo Bills Memorabilia.

Community & involvement.

There are many ways to become involved with the Museum and learn more about our region’s history. Two of the most popular ways to get involved are by becoming a member or volunteering.

Members support the Museum’s missions and activities for an annual fee with a number of benefits, including free or discounted admission to all programs, admission to special members only events, and more!

Volunteers assist with nearly every aspect of museum operations with invaluable contributions such as helping with fundraising events, giving museum tours, and cataloging artifacts.

Membership  |  Volunteer

Winifred Stanley Poster

1942


Pioneering attorney Winifred Stanley (1909-1996), who grew up in Buffalo and earned her law degree from the University at Buffalo, was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1942. In 1944, she introduced the first equal pay legislation in American history. She is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Tonawanda. Donated by Mary Louise Stanley.

Automaton

Ca. 1895


This is Madame Le Doll, an automaton imported from a doll show in Paris and was the highlight of the Great Buffalo Doll Show in 1895. With a turn of a key, Madame Le Doll turns her head, fans herself, twirls her parasol, breathes, and winks.

Mary Talbert Portrait

1929


Portrait of Mary Burnett Talbert (1866-1923) by G. Gonzalez, a civil rights activist, educator, and WWI Red Cross nurse. Talbert was a tireless worker for human rights in the late 19th and early 20th century and is perhaps best remembered for laying the foundations for the passage of the Dyer Anti-Lynch Bills.

On This Day In Buffalo

Saturday, June 21

Unity Church incorporated, 1944

U.S Constitution ratified, 1788

Rev. E. Jesse Nash celebrates 50th anniversary at Michigan Street Baptist Church, 1942

Major Albert J. Myer of Buffalo founds the U.S. Army Signal Corps, 1860

Sunday, June 22

New York Central Terminal dedicated, 1929

Memorial Drive, Memorial Dr, Buffalo, NY, USA

Red Jacket monument dedicated, 1892

Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1411 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209, USA

Monday, June 23

Buffalo Athletic Club incorporated, 1922

Demolition of Elk Street market begins, 1923

Buffalo Club for the Deaf incorporated, 1944

India Walton wins Democratic primary for mayor, 2021

Tuesday, June 24

First St. Paul's cornerstone laid, 1819

City & County Hall cornerstone laid, 1872

Franklin Street

Grover Cleveland dies, 1908

Princeton, NJ, USA

Cornerstone laid for Firemen's monument, 1864

Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1411 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209, USA

Buffalo General Hospital dedicated, 1858

High St, Buffalo, NY, USA

Elvis Presley performs, 1974

Niagara Falls, NY, USA

Husted Mill & Grain Elevator destroyed by explosion, 1913

Elk and Prenatt Streets

First integrated baseball game in Buffalo, 1917

Baseball diamond #2, Meadow Road, Delaware Park

Saengerfest Day at the Pan-American Exposition, 1901

First helicopter invented at Bell Aircraft, 1945

Union Garage, Union Road, Cheektowaga

Kitty Lambert & Cheryle Rudd become the first same-sex couple to legally marry in NY State, 2011

Niagara Falls, NY, USA

Wednesday, June 25

Curtiss Co. & Wright Co. merge and incorporate to become Curtiss-Wright Aircraft, 1929

Buffalo Auto Club founded, 1900

Now the Buffalo AAA Chapter

Buffalo Bible Institute incorporated, 1957

Aviator Katherine Stinson flies from Buffalo to Washington, 1918

Elvis Presley performs, 1976

Memorial Auditorium

Pan-American Exposition Company incorporated, 1897

Alligator spotted in Scajaquada Creek, 2001

Scajaquada Creek, Buffalo, NY 14207, USA