Buffalo/Niagara Region
Museums/Theater
The National Comedy Center - Jamestown
We don’t throw this phrase around lightly, so here goes. This is the one of the 3 best Museums in all of New York State, especially if you like to laugh! Since it is a newbie to the Museum world with a born on date in 2018, the technology and interactive exhibits are top notch. Before entering the museum, you use a kiosk to program your comedy preferences and everywhere you go in the museum, the performers and comedy stylings are customized to your tastes. You can perform your own video replication of some comedy masterpieces like the Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First” routine and have it automatically emailed to you. You can even try your schtick on stage and receive a video of that as well. You have to visit this museum if you need a good laugh.
Roycroft Campus - East Aurora
Founded in 1895, the Roycroft Campus and its founder, Elbert Hubbard, is a fascinating story. After making a lot of money working for the Amazon of the era, the Larkin Soap Company, Elbert struck out on his own with the Roycroft Press and wrote the short story, “A Message for Garcia” which went on to sell millions of copies. It was said that at one time more paper was used at the Roycroft Campus than anywhere else in the country. The campus and the tour was incredibly intriguing and fun. The buildings are still used by artists today and the Roycroft Restaurant and Inn is both right across the street and one of our top restaurants in the Buffalo/Niagara region.
Pierce-Arrow Museum - Buffalo
In the early 1900’s, the cars that U.S. Presidents and wealthy Americans drove were made in Buffalo, NY by the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company. The museum contains many original models along with the bicycles that the company made prior to cars. Even if you aren’t a “Car Person”, you will like this museum. The story about the company and the display of over 200 bikes, motorcycles, and cars is very interesting.
Niagara Power Vista - Lewiston
You are probably wondering why we are touting a power plant as a time to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon, but trust us on this one. Niagara Falls is where the first electric power generation plant in the U.S. was built in 1881. Having abundant electricity available was part of the reason that Buffalo was the 10th largest city in the U.S. in 1910. Now the power plant has a lot of interactive displays, a thrill ride that takes you through the turbines at the power plant where 748,000 gallons of water goes each second, and allows you to build your own Dam. It is actually a really interesting place to go for kids and adults. Niagara Falls has a lot of interesting things to see/do on a warm summer day, but this is a great place to go and the “Not-So” great days.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House - Buffalo
If someone asked you to name an architect who designed unique fantastic homes, the first name that most people would think of is Frank Lloyd Wright. This 30,000 sq. foot home that was built in 1905 shows the unique and masterful architectural stylings that brought Wright his incredible fame.
The Cobblestone Museum - Albion
The Cobblestone Museum consists of ten different buildings that were built between 1830 and 1870. Building structures using Cobblestones during this era was commonplace because Route 104 was the shoreline of what is now Lake Ontario during the last ice age 13,000 years ago which left large amount of small round stones in the soil that were used as the exterior for buildings. The 1834 church (pictured on the right), the 1847 schoolhouse that was still used as such until 1952, and the Ward House are all Cobblestone buildings that are still in amazing condition considering that they were built over 170 years ago. Other buildings that are part of the museum include a Print Shop, Blacksmith and Harness Shop that harken back to earlier days when this road was the main thoroughfare for Stagecoaches which transported people from Niagara Falls all the way across the state.
Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration Site - Buffalo
After the shocking assassination of President McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt hurried to Buffalo to be sworn in as the new President of the United States. He stayed at a wealthy friend’s elegant mansion while all of the other top officials in his cabinet began arriving there so the local U.S. District Judge swore him in as the 26th President of the United States. That house is now a fascinating trip through history to one of the harrowing episodes in American History. The house also hosts speakers, dinner events, and even TRivia (Teddy Roosevelt) Nights to test participants knowledge in a competitive environment.
Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Museum - Jamestown
One of the reasons that the National Comedy Museum is also in Jamestown is because one of the funniest women in history, Lucille Ball, was born and raised there. Most people remember her from the great TV show, "I Love Lucy”, but most people don’t know that the studio that she and Desi started produced Star Trek, Mission Impossible, The Untouchables, and of course the 4 or 5 versions of the Lucy Shows. Because of her talent and business prowess, she was worth $125 million in today’s dollars. Who knew? The museum is a must see when you are in the area.