History and Museums

Stand where Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office. Gaze at the terminus of the Erie Canal. Wander through a fort that played a pivotal role in the French and Indian War.

Exterior shot of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

Western New York’s rich history is told at heritage sites throughout the region. These include:

Buffalo History Museum

Site of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.

Buffalo Waterfront and “Canalside”

A major shipping portal that was a principal force in transforming Buffalo from a frontier village into a thriving commercial and industrial metropolis.

Forest Lawn Cemetery

Incomparable beauty and the final resting place of some of Western New York’s most notable citizens.

Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor

A corridor of historic African American neighborhoods anchored by internationally recognized cultural institutions such as the Michigan Street Baptist Church, one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad, and the Colored Musicians Club.

The Naval and Military Park

The nation’s largest inland floating history museum.

Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center

An interactive museum, situated next to the bridge where freedom seekers crossed over into Canada, that brings authentic stories of the Underground Railroad to life.

Old Fort Niagara

A 300-year-old National Historic Landmark.

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site

The Greek revival mansion where Roosevelt was sworn in as president after William McKinley’s assassination.