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.

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09/16/2026

Members-Only Preview: Long Way Home: 40 Years of the Goo Goo Dolls

09/17/2026

Community Is Now: Buffalo As Art

09/18/2026

M&T Third Friday

09/18/2026

Junior History Buffs

09/19/2026

Builders of the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

09/19/2026

Women on the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

09/23/2026

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

09/24/2026

Harvest to Market: The Erie Canal’s Food Legacy

09/24/2026

Trivia Night

09/26/2026

Builders of the Canal Tour at the Waterway of Change Exhibit

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.

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On This Day In Buffalo

Saturday, September 12

Lexington Real Foods Community Cooperative incorporated, 1972

Kleinhans Music Hall cornerstone laid, 1939

Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Cir, Buffalo, NY 14201, United States

Writer & producer Tom Fontana born, 1951

Susan B. Anthony visits the Pan-American Exposition, 1901

Sunday, September 13

State Police storm Attica Prison, 1971

Buffalo State College opens for classes, 1871

Jersey & Normal St. Buffalo, NY

Times Beach Nature Preserve dedicated, 2014

Times Beach Nature Preserve, Coast Guard Station S Rd, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States

Colored Musicians Club landmarked by the Buffalo Preservation Board, 1979

Monday, September 14

Theodore Roosevelt takes oath of office, 1901

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 641 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202, United States

McKinley monument dedicated, 1906

Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA

Devil's Hole Massacre takes place, 1763

Niagara gorge

Bee Gees perform in Buffalo, 1979

Memorial Auditorium

Tuesday, September 15

Buffalo Hispanic Association incorporated, 1977

Buffalo Female Academy opens, 1851

Johnson Park, Buffalo, NY, USA

Ararat stone dedicated, 1825

Grand Island, NY, USA

Eduard L. A. Pausch Takes Death Mask of McKinley, 1901

Wednesday, September 16

Kinzua Dam dedicated, 1966

Ground broken for Buffalo City Hall, 1929

Niagara Square

Buffalo City Watch Founded, 1834

McKinley Funeral Train Arrives in Washington, DC, 1901

AAM Accredited Museum Badge