It is no secret that Buffalo Niagara is a historic region. Known for its industrial past, the Erie Canal, Native American heritage, the War of 1812 at Fort Niagara, and its leading role in the Underground Railroad, our region has a wealth of stories to share. Consequently, there are several history museums in the area that safeguard these stories from being forgotten, through the preservation of buildings, artifacts, documents, testimonials, replicas and more. Thanks to our local history buffs, we can easily look back on how our region came to be, draw wisdom from our ancestors, and identify patterns in culture, and thus lend to the future of our society.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a teacher, a homeschooling parent, a local adventurer, or an eager student, there is at least one museum in Buffalo Niagara that will capture your attention. For the newbie, there is the Buffalo History Museum, which has a large collection of artifacts and documents that span across a wide timeline. Here you’ll find rugged Native American tools and colorful headdresses, ancient newspapers, fashionable antique clothing, the fading jerseys and shoes of local sports heroes, pioneer furniture, and unique treasures that once belonged to immigrant families. Dads will enjoy showing off to their kids at the interactive sports exhibit, where footballs dangling from the ceiling invite visitors to test how high they can jump. Children will especially love the active model train downstairs, which showcases mini replicas of local historic sites such as the Eagle House and the mill where Sweet Jenny’s now resides.

For a “living” experience, check out Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, where reenactors and original buildings engage all of the senses. Take a stroll through the village and survey 19th century architecture. Examine the old church, general store, school, doctor’s office, blacksmith shop, and more. Get hands-on in a pioneer kitchen and learn how locals prepared their food. Learn through interactive activities about Amherst’s transition from a dense forest to a bustling agricultural town, and finally to the suburb that we know today. Listen to music from the Prohibition era in a replica speakeasy. Explore even more exhibits, including “A Story of Radio & TV,” “Life on the Erie Canal,” “Community Art Gallery,” and “9/11 Remembered.”

If you have children, or if you are feeling nostalgic, then a trip to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum might be in order. Here visitors can watch demonstrations of how Wurlitzer Music Rolls were produced and see a collection of 1,600 hand-punched original master rolls. Come and examine original and carefully restored hand-carved animals, and ride on interactive exhibits. Also available are carving workshops, storytimes, and a gift shop which features keepsakes such as vintage toys, games and other merchandise.

Old Fort Niagara has stood solemnly on the eastern bank of the Niagara River for centuries. On a typical day, visitors can explore period-furnished rooms of the French Castle and other buildings, examine the gun battery, and gaze out at the wind-whipped river from inside of the powerfully quiet stone walls. During Old Fort Niagara special events, reenactors dressed as soldiers and Native Americans come and share stories, set up period camps, sell market novelty items, and reenact battles. In the moment, visitors will feel as though they have entered a world completely different from the present one.

So many notable people have come before us, living out unique stories that have shaped Buffalo Niagara into the complex and diverse region that it is today. Come and experience the many different perspectives, cultural nuances, technologies, and other elements of progress that have influenced our own modern lives in more ways than we can fathom. For more information, please check out our comprehensive list of local history museums below.