The Buffalo History Museum

Waterway of Change

Visit Us at Canalside

This exhibit invites visitors to explore the transformative story of the Erie Canal. It begins with the traditional homeland of the Haudenosaunee and the canal’s opening in 1825, tracing how it helped turn Buffalo into a bustling port and shipping hub by the late 19th century.

It also highlights the diverse perspectives of Indigenous Peoples, Black individuals, women, and immigrant communities affected by the canal’s development, offering a richer understanding of its cultural and historical significance.

Join Us

View All Events

09/23/2026

“All American Are Created Equal”: From Jefferson and Adams to Lincoln to Us

09/24/2026

Trivia Night

09/24/2026

Harvest to Market: The Erie Canal’s Food Legacy

09/26/2026

Builders of the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

09/26/2026

Women on the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

09/30/2026

Buffalo 101: How History Shaped the Queen City – Session 1

10/01/2026

WHO WERE (AND ARE) THE ROYCROFTERS?

10/02/2026

History Meets the Huddle: Behind the Scenes Tour of the World’s Largest Buffalo Bills Collection

10/03/2026

Pan-American Walking Tour

10/07/2026

Happy Hour History: A Different Path to Justice – The Work of Connie and Arthur Eve

Shop Uniquely Buffalo Gifts

Museum Shop

Find a variety of gifts in-person at our Museum Shop as well as a selection of gifts in our online store.

Picture Store

Browse our extensive photo collection and decorate your home or office with classic Buffalo images.

View Full Calendar

On This Day In Buffalo

Saturday, September 19

Evans grain elevator destroyed by fire, 1862

Ground broken for Delaware Park, 1870

Buffalo Courier-Express publishes final issue, 1982

Death of Mary Jemison, 1833

Buffalo Creek Reservation

Sunday, September 20

Dr. Frances E. Fronczak born, 1874

Lancaster Opera House reopens after restoration program, 1981

Lancaster, NY

Buffalo Jewish Veterans Club incorporated, 1945

Holland Land Company deeds over land for Franklin Square Cemetery, 1821

Now the site of Erie County Hall on Franklin St.

Monday, September 21

Dold Feed Company warehouse destroyed by fire, 1953

Michigan Avenue on the Buffalo waterfront

Buffalo Bowling Association incorporated, 1942

Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals incorporated, 1888

Lackawanna Steel workers walk off the job as part of the Great Steel Strike, 1919

Bethlehem Steel Plant

Tuesday, September 22

An estimated 7,000 workers at Lackawanna Steel go on strike, 1919

Lackawanna, NY, USA

Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra perform in Norton Hall, 1941

University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA

Birth of Buffalo artist Hubert Crawford, 1910

Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

Buffalo Industrial Exposition opens, 1915

Broadway Auditorium

Wednesday, September 23

Steelworker Casimir Mazurek shot to death at Lackawanna Steel Plant, 1919

Bethlehem Steel Plant

IRS Agent Michael Dillon killed in the line of duty, 1983

Cheektowaga, NY, USA

Singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco born, 1970

Buffalo, NY, USA

Glen Park Casino destroyed by fire, 1968

Williamsville, NY

AAM Accredited Museum Badge