buffalo historic tours

Experience Buffalo and Erie County's history with a visit to The Buffalo History Museum.

Guest Services and Retail

Kelsey Reed

Visiting the museum.

The Museum is open with pay what you wish admission  (recommended admission is $10) Wednesdays through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free on M&T Third Fridays from 10a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Front Desk.

The Museum and all facilities are closed on national holidays.

The Research Library at the Museum is open exclusively by appointment. You can schedule an appointment at Calendly . All appointments to our research library cost $10 per visit, and remain free for members. Mask use is optional. Appointments are paid for at the Front Desk of the Museum.

Research Library

Hours & Admission

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

By appointment only. To book an appointment, visit Calendly . All appointments to our research library cost $10 per visit, and remain free for members.

Please note if you are coming into the Library to do research, we are asking that all staff and guests who enter wear a face masks, regardless of vaccination status.

By appointment: Call (716) 873 – 9644 ext. 402 for more details.

The Museum is offering Pay What You Wish admission, recommended admission is $10 per person.

Virtual appointments for the Research Library must be booked in advance via Calendly . In person Library Appointments are $10  and remain free for members. Virtual Library appointments are Pay what you Wish.

Download a map of the Museum here .

Education & Tours

Our Locations

The buffalo history museum’s pan american building.

1 Museum Ct, Buffalo, NY 14216

(716) 873-9644

The Buffalo History Museum’s Resource Center

459 Forest Avenue

(716) 873-9644 ext. 402

Accessibility at the Museum

Accessibility Statement

The Buffalo History Museum works to make all of its exhibits, public programs, and other offerings accessible to all audiences. For more information about accessibility and your experience, please either email your questions to [email protected] or call (716) 873-9644 ext. 301.

The Buffalo History Museum offers free and accessible parking in the Museum’s adjacent lot both at the Museum building and the Resource Center.

Service Animals Service dogs specially trained to assist a person with a disability are welcome at the Museum.

Information for Visitors Using Mobility Devices

At the Buffalo History Museum, all galleries, entrances, and facilities are wheelchair and mobility-device accessible. Our wheelchair-accessible entrance is located beyond the marble retaining wall, on the right side of the Museum as you look at it from the parking lot.  There is an incline to approach this side entrance; if you would appreciate assistance, please call (716) 873-9644 and our staff will meet you outside.

Wheelchairs are available free of charge at both the Museum and the Resource Center on a first-come, first served basis. For questions or assistance, please approach any staff member. If you would like to reserve a wheelchair in advance you can do so by calling (716) 873-9644 or emailing [email protected].

There are wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the main level of the Museum and the Resource center. Single user/family restrooms are available on the Museum’ main level, near the Museum Shop.

An elevator services each of the three levels in the Museum Building and is indicated on our Museum Map .

Services for Guests Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

The Museum provides free verbal-description docent-guided tours for select exhibitions by appointment. For questions or assistance, please approach any staff member. If you would like to reserve a verbal-description tour you can do so by calling Education Coordinator, Patrick, at (716) 873-9644 ext. 304 or by emailing us at [email protected] to make an appointment.

Services for Guests Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The Museum strives to effectively create access for individuals with disabilities in several ways, including but not limited to providing auxiliary aids and services necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-hearing.

All of the exhibition films at the Museum are open-captioned. The auditorium is also equipped with an assistive listening system. For questions or assistance, please approach any staff member, call us at (716) 873-9644, or email [email protected]. The Museum will give consideration to an individual’s requested auxiliary aid, service of choice, or work to provide an equally effective alternative.

From Interstate 90, take Route 33 west to Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway) west. Exit the 198 at Elmwood Avenue, turn right from the off-ramp onto Elmwood Avenue. Turn right onto the first street on your right, Nottingham Terrace, and turn into the parking lot at your right which is 1 Museum Court. The Museum is located on your left from the parking lot.

From Interstate 190, exit at Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway) east and continue to the exit at Elmwood Avenue. Bear right and continue to the intersection with Elmwood. Turn right onto Elmwood Avenue and turn right on to the first street, Nottingham Terrace. At the first right turn into the parking lot which is Museum Court. The Museum is located on your left from the parking lot.

The Museum is reachable from the east and west by the Jesse Kregal Pathway .

The Museum is served by the Elmwood Bus #20 on the southeast corner of Elmwood & Nottingham.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Museum is self-touring and self-paced, so visiting times will vary. For those interested in a quick visit to the Museum, some galleries can be viewed in as little as an hour. For visitors wishing to spend an entire morning or afternoon exploring the history of our region, the artifacts, information, narratives, hands-on activities, stories to be discovered in our Research Library, and shopping all combine to a longer experience.

On average, most spend between one to two hours in the Museum.

Yes! The Museum welcomes children of all ages with galleries that include a number of hands-on activities for children, from historic props, interactive displays. Scavenger hunts are available at Guest Services.

Yes! Your admission is valid until the Museum closes and allows reentry to the Museum any time on that same day.

Featured Events

The Buffalo Bills of the All-America Football Conference

Event Details

SOLD OUT: Pan-Am Walking Tour!

Behind the Scenes Tour

Junior History Buffs

M&T Third Friday

For preservation of our collection, contact us for inquiries relating to image reproduction and artifacts.

History Tours

Buffalo river history tour, buffalo river history tours.

Join us as our docent tells the story of the Erie Canal, Buffalo’s history as the largest grain port in the world, and so much more on this informative tour.

Silo City Tour

Join us for a riverboat tour combined with a walking tour. Take a two-hour journey by water and foot to the Perot Malting Plant and Grain Elevators.

Niagara River History Tour

Enjoy a ride on our double-decker Harbor Queen down the Niagara River while listening to stories of events that took place on Lake Erie and the Niagara River!

TOUR INFORMATION

Choose from a selection of tours, available May through October, based on different aspects of the Buffalo Waterfront, as well as different topics of interest. Tours can range 1-2 hours long and are led by guides passionate about Buffalo's architecture, culture and history. Due to limited capacity, reservations are recommended.

Enjoy a 25% discount on Healthy Items presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY at Clinton's Dish after the tour by presenting your ticket confirmation!

Upcoming tours:

• Wed 5/31 - 1pm
• Tues 5/6 - 11am
• Thurs 6/8 - 11am
• Mon 6/12 - 10am
• Tues 6/13 - 10am
• Wed 6/14 - 10am
• Thurs 6/15 - 11am
• Sun 6/18 - 9am
• Mon 6/19 - 10am
• Tues 6/20 - 10am
• Wed 6/21 - 11am
• Sat 6/24 - 10am
• Mon 6/26 - 11am
• Tues 6/27 - 10am
• Wed 6/28 - 11am
• Thurs 6/29 - 6pm
• Fri 6/30 - 2pm

All tour days and times can be found and booked here .

Visit Explore Buffalo for more information on each tour and to make any reservations.

Related Activities

Brought to you by the following sponsor:

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York

At Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, we’re committed to creating a healthier future for the place we call home.

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Buffalo River History Tours

Take a cruise through history and join us for a 90-minute narrated Buffalo River History Tour! Hear the story of the Erie Canal, Buffalo’s history as the largest grain port in the world and experience the nation’s largest collection of standing grain elevators from just a few feet away.

Visit Buffalo Niagara

Visitor Information: 800.283.3256

Main Office: 716.852.0511

Main Fax: 716.852.0131

403 Main Street, Suite 630 Buffalo, New York 14203-1496

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© 2024 Visit Buffalo Niagara. All Rights Reserved

Best of Buffalo Tour

• True Crime Buffalo Tour
• Waterfront & Silo Tour
• Queen For A Day Tour
• Brewery Tour
• Private Groups
• What's New?
• Buffalo Ghost Tours
• Images Crime

Double Decker Buffalo Tours

Sightseeing Tours Operating 

May though September

(716) 246-9080

Waterfront & Grain Silo Tour

 Humorous 2 hour Buffalo tour exploring the best of the city.  Includes a walking tour of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.  

True Crime Tour

 Explore stories of murder and mayhem that occurred in Buffalo.  Find out about love triangles, exploding corpses and the neighborhood known as "The most evil square mile in America."

This engaging and entertaining 90 minute tour begins with a walking exploration of a massive grain silo.  Then we experience Buffalo's waterfront by visiting the Outer Harbor.

Top of Buffalo Brewery Tour

Experience three iconic venues, three drinks and three tours on our exclusive Brew Tour.  Sip a drink and watch the sun set over the Lake from the Seneca One Tower...plus a lot more! 

Queen for a Day Tour

Spoil yourself on Sunday with brunch, drinks, a tiki boat ride, singing, dancing.  Designed for ladies who need a special day of fun with their best gal pals.  

Private & Corporate Groups

 Looking for a creative event for up to 65 guests to experience the best of Buffalo?  We offer customized sightseeing tours with food and beverage packages for your corporate or social group.  

Murder Mystery Dinners

We step away from the bus to offer full interactive murder mystery dinner performances.  In September join us at the Hotel Lafayette for a high society murder mystery!

Music Bingo

Music Bingo combines your favorite music, a classic game and local trivia into an evening of unforgettable fun.

October Events

Halloween fun this fall season.

Although our double decker bus season ends in September, we offer three Halloween themed tour events in October!

EVIL BUFFALO:   Experience the most evil times in Buffalo's history on a lantern lit tour inside an abandoned grain silo. Reservations and info found here .

CANALSIDE GHOST WALK:  Explore the dark side of Buffalo's waterfront on a one hour walking tour of Canalside. Reservations and info found here .

Haunted Winery Excursion : Hop aboard a motor coach for a day long event featuring a haunted Victorian Funeral Home, a psychic reading, lunch at a winery and tastings at 2 vineyards. Reservations and info found here .

Gift Certificates

Give the gift of humorous history!  Gift certificates are available in denominations that correspond to the cost of our Buffalo tours.

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Buffalo's Best Tours

Simply put, we tell the story of Buffalo .   We believe that every aspect of our tours and murder mysteries should be entertaining.  If you learn something along the way, there's no extra charge.  Our Buffalo tours are based upon serious scholarship and research, but are presented in an engaging and humorous style.

Buffalo Double Decker Bus Tours

1 Marine Drive, Buffalo, New York 14202, United States

716-246-9080 or 716-997-2245

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SUNSET HARBOR CRUISE

Quick details.

• Hour Glass Duration: 2 hours

Have the most wonderfully relaxing evening aboard our double-decker Harbor Queen. Grab a drink from our friendly bartender, listen to music, and enjoy a spectacular sunset over Lake Erie and the Buffalo River. You’ll be glad you joined us!

716-997-2245

• Murder Mystery Dinners
• Buffalo Music Bingo
• Winery Tour
• Buffalo Ghost Tours
• Evil Buffalo

Buffalo History Tours

Death at the silos murder mystery, grain silo murder mystery, back by popular demand, based on buffalo's violent waterfront history.

All 14 shows sold out last year, so get tickets while you can! 

The year is 1899. Buffalo’s booming waterfront is seized in the grips of a violent labor strike pitting Irish grain scoopers against their bosses. You are joining the Buffalo community gathering for a labor meeting at a grain elevator in the heart of the dispute. After interacting with the real life characters in this murder mystery you’ll enjoy a wonderful buffet dinner at RiverWorks. But don’t get too comfortable! Murders afoot and we need your help in solving this grisly grain mill murder mystery. Following dinner you’ll walk to the grain silo, the scene of the crime! Look for clues, listen to interrogations, interview suspects and try to outwit the annoying lead detective. After you’ve collected your clues, you’ll return to RiverWorks once again and discover "who done it". Expect a fun challenge to determine the team that wins the final prize after correctly identifying the killer.

12 Performances on Fridays and Saturdays this Spring/Summer

Winter 2024, sold out all performances murder at the roycroft inn, the performance.

SORRY BUT ALL PERFORMANCES SOLD OUT IN ONE WEEK! 

The year is 1910 and you are invited to an exclusive party at East Aurora's beautiful Roycroft Inn .  But when one of the Roycroft artists crafts a picture perfect murder, it's up to you to figure out 'who done it'.  This humorous improvisational murder mystery performance takes place in the stunning spaces within the historic Roycroft Inn.

Actors dressed in period costumes interact with the audience in this comic caper.  Audience members interrogate suspects in three separate locations within the venue.  It's up to you to grill the suspects, collect the clues and solve the murder!

Use the button below to make reservations, Tickets are $75 per person.

Event Menu 

Choose from one of three entrees, two of which are served gluten free.  Dessert, water at the table and a coffee station are included.

Choose from:

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Herb marinated breast of chicken, oven roasted and served with a citrus and fresh lemon rosemary cream sauce *Served Gluten free

Top Filet of Sirloin

Seasoned and grilled, demi-glace 

*Served Gluten free

Victory Garden Penne

Sweet peas, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, heirloom tomato, basil pesto and grated Parmesan cheese

Soft drinks, beer, wine and cocktails are available for extra charge at the bar.

How To Order Tickets for Our Murder Mystery Dinners

Tickets are $75 per person for these murder mystery dinners; this all inclusive price means there are no other fees, gratuities or additional charges.  

To make on-line reservations click on any one of the individual dates listed below.

Mystery Dinner Theater Performance Dates:

Saturday January 20th at 5:30 PM

Saturday January 27th at 5:30 PM

Saturday February 3rd at 5:30 PM

Stay Overnight at the famous Roycroft Inn

 Would you like to stay overnight at the Roycroft Inn on the evening of the performance?  

The Inn is offering a special rate on the nights of the murder mystery:

3 and 4 room suites: $149 rate 

5 room suites: $199 rate

Call directly to book! 716-652-5552 

Do these mystery dinner theater performances sell out?

Yes, our performances typically sell out so it is best to order tickets ASAP.

Is this a stage play? How do improvisational murder mystery dinners events work?

Our performance is improvised which means that most dialogue is not scripted.  Audience members must interact with the actors in order to obtain clues and information.  The format is lively, fun and personal.  But be advised--you must be involved to solve the murder.

What about guests with dietary restrictions?

Two of the three entrees are gluten free.  Call us at 716-997-2245 with any questions about dietary restrictions.

What about groups?

We love 'em.  Tables typically seat 8 guests.  We can group groups at adjacent tables, however.  Call us 997-2245 for details.

scenes from Previous performances

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Buffalo's Best Tours

Boat Cruises

Join us on a boat cruise to explore the unique history of Buffalo’s waterfront! These themed cruises aboard the Miss Buffalo II are available on a limited basis during the summer season.

Prohibition Cruise: Sails June 29, July 20, & August 31

Buffalo river sunset cruise with buffalo niagara waterkeeper: sails august 18.

Space is limited on the Miss Buffalo II and advance reservations are required for both cruises. All food and beverages must be obtained through Buffalo Harbor Cruises.

Please click here to read the Miss Buffalo II carry-on bag policy that limits the size and type of carry-on items that may be brought aboard Miss Buffalo II. This policy is similar in nature to the “Stadium clear bag” rules at NFL, NHL and Collegiate venues across the United States.