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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04/08/2026

Canalside Lecture Series – Entertainment and Vice

04/08/2026

Colored Musicians Club: Jazz Appreciation featuring Jay/Sharptet

04/11/2026

Arabic Heritage Month Celebration

04/12/2026

Silent Screams Exhibit Opening

04/14/2026

Memory Cafe

04/17/2026

M&T Third Friday

04/17/2026

Junior History Buffs: Building Strong Children with Frederick Douglass

04/17/2026

An Evening with Frederick Douglass

04/22/2026

Erie County RSVP Orientation

04/22/2026

Buffalo Civil War Round Table Speaker Series: From Battlefield to Book

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

Sunday, April 5

South Side Bank opens, 1919

2213 Seneca St.

Buffalo & Williamsville Railway opens, 1893

Elvis Presley performs in Buffalo, 1972

Memorial Auditorium

Buffalo revises its incorporation as village for the 3rd time, 1816

Monday, April 6

Park Country Club of Buffalo incorporated, 1903

4949 Sheridan Dr, Williamsville, NY 14221

Fire destroys "Cheapside" area from Seneca St to Terrace, 1833

U.S. enters World War I, 1917

National Library Workers Day

Tuesday, April 7

Baseball historian Joseph Overfield born, 1916

Buffalo Negro Scholarship Foundation incorporated, 1961

National Beer Day

First public gay rights picket in Buffalo, 1970

City Hall Buffalo City, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA

Wednesday, April 8

Director-Choreographer Michael Bennett born, 1943

Peggy Donner wins naming contest for zoo's new elephant-Koko, 1939

Buffalo Roller Rink opens, 1885

Niagara Street, Niagara St, Buffalo, NY, USA

Michigan Street Baptist Church dedicated, 1849

Michigan Street Baptist Church, 511 Michigan Ave, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA

Thursday, April 9

Painter Charles Burchfield born, 1893

Ashtabula, OH 44004, USA

Buffalo Polo Club founded, 1877

Riot erupts after assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968

Malcolm X gives speech, 1963

Muhammad's Mosque of Islam #23, 292 Glenwood avenue, Buffalo, NY

AAM Accredited Museum Badge