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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.

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08/01/2026

Pan-American Walking Tour

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08/02/2026

Black Experience Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

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08/02/2026

Women on the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

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08/02/2026

Builders of the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

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08/06/2026

A Little Building. A Big Party.

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08/08/2026

Builders of the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

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08/08/2026

Women on the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

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08/11/2026

Memory Cafe

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08/12/2026

Canalside Lecture Series: The World Came to Buffalo: Celebrating the Pan-American Exposition at 125

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08/13/2026

Presidential Descendants in Conversation

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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.

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Picture Store

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

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On This Day In Buffalo

Sunday, July 26

President John Quincy Adams gives speech in Buffalo, 1843

New York Admitted to the Union as the 11th State, 1788

President McKinley drives memorial stake at proposed site for Pan-American Exposition, 1897

Cayuga Island, Niagara Falls, NY 14304, USA

First suspension bridge across Niagara River completed, 1848

Niagara Falls, NY, USA

Monday, July 27

William S. Wicks born 1854

Barnevelt, NY

Kathleen Howard born, 1884

First Buffalonian to perform at the Metropolitan Opera

Tuesday, July 28

Richardson Complex grand opening, 2017

Wednesday, July 29

Father Nelson Baker dies, 1936

Charles Lindbergh visits Buffalo, 1927

Hotel Statler, Niagara Square

14th amendment to the Constitution passes, granting full civil & voting rights to African-Americans, 1868

National Chicken Wing Day proclaimed by Mayor Makowski, 1977

Proclaimed by Mayor Makowski

Thursday, July 30

Peace Day celebrated, 1913

Erie Beach amusement park

Tornado touches down in Cheektowaga, 1987

Marshall McLuhan gives speech, 1973

National Commissioners Day at the Pan-American Exposition, 1901