Become a Member Today!
Members enjoy free admission year-round, members-only exhibit openings and events, special access, discounts, and more.
Your support helps us care for the objects, photographs, documents, and stories that tell Western New York’s history today, while preserving them for the people who will tell its story tomorrow.
Your Membership Benefits: Rooted in Story, Powered by You
Belong to the Story•Free general admission to the Museum and Research Library •Invitations to members-only exhibit openings and special events •Free admission to all lectures and Happy Hour History programs •Guest access to select programs and events* •Exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of our Resource Center, where we care for over 100,000 historical artifacts!
Access More, Explore Deeper•Priority registration and discounts on workshops and select special events •Advance notice and free admission to select programs •Members-only emails with premium content, early access, insider updates, and special offers •Access to the Time Travelers reciprocal program (400+ participating institutions) •Sustaining Level and above includes access to 1,500+ museums and cultural institutions through the North America Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association.
Celebrate and Save•20% off all items on The Buffalo History Museum Picture Store •15% off Museum Shop purchases year-round and 20% off for your birthday* •10% off all orders at Tipico Coffee & Café with TBHM membership card *Membership benefits updated January 1, 2026 *See FAQ below for details |  |
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Membership Levels
Sustaining $125
Enjoy all of our basic membership benefits listed above for two adults and four children 16 years of age or younger.
PLUS
- Access to North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association“The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association® network is a mosaic of 1,244 art museums and galleries, historical museums and societies, botanical gardens, children’s museums, zoos and more.” – narmassociation.orgFind a fellow NARM member association online here.
Collector $250
Enjoy all of our basic membership benefits listed above for two adults and four children 16 years of age or younger.
PLUS
- Access to North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association “The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association® network is a mosaic of 1,244 art museums and galleries, historical museums and societies, botanical gardens, children’s museums, zoos and more.” – narmassociation.org
- Members only complimentary ‘The Buffalo History Museum’ recycled Members cotton tote bag
Find a fellow NARM member association online here.
Conservator $500
Enjoy all of our basic membership benefits listed above for two adults and four children 16 years of age or younger.
PLUS
- Access to North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association “The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association® network is a mosaic of 1,244 art museums and galleries, historical museums and societies, botanical gardens, children’s museums, zoos and more.” – narmassociation.org
- Members only complimentary ‘The Buffalo History Museum’ recycled Members cotton tote bag
- Complimentary pin from our Gift Shop
- One Family Membership to gift
Find a fellow NARM member association online here.
Curator $1,000
Enjoy all of our basic membership benefits listed above for two adults and four children 16 years of age or younger.
PLUS
- Access to North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association “The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association® network is a mosaic of 1,244 art museums and galleries, historical museums and societies, botanical gardens, children’s museums, zoos and more.” – narmassociation.org
- Members only complimentary ‘The Buffalo History Museum’ recycled Members cotton tote bag
- Complimentary pin from our Gift Shop
- Two Family Memberships to gift
- Behind-The-Scenes tour with The Buffalo History Museum’s Executive Director, Melissa Brown for you and 4 guests
Find a fellow NARM member association online here.
A Lifetime of Stories, Lifetime Family Membership | $2,500
Membership has always been about more than visiting the Museum. It is about belonging to a community of people who believe Western New York’s stories are worth preserving, sharing, and carrying forward.
For generations, individuals and families have chosen to stay connected to The Buffalo History Museum. Lifetime Membership offers a meaningful way to continue that tradition, with a Family Membership that never expires and support that helps sustain the Museum for generations to come.
Your Lifetime Family Membership includes all Museum membership benefits for life for two adults and up to four children age 16 or younger, plus:
- NARM reciprocal benefits at 1,500+ participating institutions
- Three Family Memberships to gift to friends or family
- A private behind-the-scenes tour with Executive Director Melissa Brown for you and four guests
- A complimentary Members recycled cotton tote and Museum Shop pin
- A special welcome gift related to one of the Museum’s current exhibits.
- Recognition as a Lifetime Member of The Buffalo History Museum
Click here to become a Lifetime Member
Your membership becomes part of the Museum’s story, just as the memberships of generations before you have become part of ours.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can start or renew your membership anytime in one of three easy ways:
Online: Select your level and pay securely.
Onsite: Visit us during open hours — our Guest Services team is happy to help.
By Phone: Call 716-873-9644 (Wed–Sat 10–5, Sun 12–5).
Details are shared in your welcome letter and monthly Member eNewsletter.
To use a discount online, enter the provided membership promo code at checkout.
Need help? Download instructions here or contact us at (716) 873-9644 or kpurpura@buffalohistory.org
Yes. Our Guest Services team can look you up by name if your membership is active.
Memberships include one physical card per household. If you’d like a second card, just let us know.
Cards typically arrive by mail within 2 to 3 weeks.
Need it sooner for reciprocal benefits? Contact us at (716) 873-9644 ext. 318 or kpurpura@buffalohistory.org
Memberships are valid for one full year and expire on the day in which they were purchased.
You can find your expiration date on your membership card or by calling us at (716) 873-9644
Can I purchase multiple years of membership at once? Yes!
Multi-year memberships are available by phone at (716) 873-9644 or in person.
We offer $5 off for each additional year (up to three years). Multi-year options are not currently available online.
Absolutely. Contact us at 716-873-9644 ext. 318 or kpurpura@buffalohistory.org to request a replacement.
Yes.
We offer discounted membership pricing for:
•Seniors (65+) at the Individual and Family levels
•Students (full-time or part-time) at the Individual level, just present your student ID at Guest services or sign up align with your .edu email.
•Multi-year memberships ($5 off for each additional year, up to 3 years)
•Buffalo Zoo Members: All active members of the Buffalo Zoo receive $5 off a TBHM membership when you show your Zoo Membership upon purchase (applies to in-person transactions only).
Yes.
•For discounted events: members may purchase up to five tickets at the discounted rate
•For free events: admission is based on your membership level plus one guest*
*This does not apply to Exhibit Previews
Yes, through several reciprocal programs.
All members: receive access to the Time Travelers Program (400+ museums nationwide) Find participating museums here: Time Travelers
Members at the Sustaining level or above: receive access to 1,500+ institutions through North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. Find Participating institutions here: narmassociation.org
Note: reciprocal admission may vary (some offer free, others discounted entry). Always call ahead to confirm.
To update any personal information, please contact your Membership Coordinator:
Kara Purpura 716-873-9644 ext. 318
