• Be the leading cultural and educational institution for the study, interpretation and publication of Western New York history.
• Ensure and advocate for the preservation, exploration, and enjoyment of our historic treasures.
• By inspiring personal connections to our regional stories, strengthen the fabric of the community and encourage respect.
• Be a hub for gathering, socializing, connecting, and engaging – specifically a welcoming place that establishes and expands networks and creates shared experiences.
• Build sustainable financial capital and hire, develop and retain talent.
• Through our past, present and future, foster connections with our shared history and contribute to the region’s overall quality of life.
• Engage our supporters as goodwill ambassadors for the Museum and for Western New York.

Collaboration

Work together, valuing others perspectives and contributions, and allow new and creative ideas and possibilities to arise.

Conversation

Listen actively; be open, honest and mindful in our communication.

Diversity

In our operations and outreach, we prioritize inclusivity and access.

Engagement

Exude enthusiasm and energy in our work, ensuring that all people feel welcome and have opportunities for participation.

Excellence

Continuously grow and improve through our implementation of personal and professional best practices and our investment in our people, programs and resources.

Integrity

Demonstrate the highest level of ethics, authenticity, credibility and transparency in our interactions with all people.

Storytelling

Passionately keep and share our community’s stories.

Stewardship

Meet or exceed our responsibilities as a regional museum and non-profit organization.

Diversity Statement:
Community engagement is at the heart of The Buffalo History Museum’s mission to experience history with people of Western New York who come from diverse backgrounds and have different perspectives on past and contemporary issues. We recognize and are working to dismantle the power dynamics within our own institution and the community to which we contribute. We aim to make the Museum more welcoming, accessible, and comfortable for all people.

Museum Values:
Collaboration: We work across disciplines and communities to ensure that other’s perspectives are heard.
Conversation: We are active listeners who facilitate open, honest, and culturally engaged dialogue.
Diversity: We prioritize diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in everything that the Museum does.
Engagement: We work enthusiastically to ensure that all people feel welcome and have opportunities to participate.
Excellence: We are always growing, improving, and   investing in our people, programs, and resources.
Integrity: We demonstrate the highest level of ethics, authenticity, credibility, and transparency in our interactions with all people.
Storytelling: We are passionate about keeping and sharing our community’s stories.
Stewardship: We are here to preserve our region’s history and to help others do the same.

Values in Action: 

Community Building: As the world and the Museum’s role within it continue to change, our work and institution must evolve to better meet the needs of our community. We contextualize contemporary issues in a historical context, build awareness, and collaborate for social change. We reframe how we interpret history by listening and relating with groups, not translating for them.

Partnering: The museum is creating culturally competent partnerships with more groups across the region and co-creating projects that are relevant and meaningful to their audiences and constituents. We seek a new level of commitment to diverse communities to include and share their perspectives.

Learning: Engaging with history helps our community to build critical thinking skills and develop a deeper understanding of our society and how it came to be. We focus on issues that matter to guests from their perspectives and build relationships with communities that have been historically marginalized by museums, as equal partners.

Connecting: Our artifacts and archives act as a lens to understand the challenges that shape our community. We are expanding access and diversifying the collection so that our community can see themselves represented and help amplify their voices about issues that affect Buffalo’s future. Engaging with collections sparks the emotional connections history can create and help us to understand where the future can take us.

Welcoming: Universally accessible amenities create an inclusive environment for all. We believe it is important to remove barriers from accessing and experiencing our stories by providing an open, welcoming environment for all our guests. By listening to our guests’ evolving expectations, we continue to adapt our amenities to create a comfortable and inviting space.