Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday:10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Museum and all facilities are closed on national holidays.

The Museum is offering Pay What You Wish admission, recommended admission is $12 per person.

Download a map of the Museum here.

Also, as part of our commitment to being a welcoming space for all, complimentary parking is available in the Museum’s public lot.

Located just steps from our historic building, the lot is open to all guests during Museum hours and for special events. Whether you’re here for an afternoon, a quick visit, or a stroll through the Japanese Gardens, we want your experience to begin with ease.

If you’re planning to visit via public transit, the museum is served by the Elmwood Bus #20, with a stop at the southeast corner of Elmwood & Nottingham
We look forward to welcoming you—without parking fees and without barriers to experiencing the stories that shape Western New York.

The Research Library is accessible by appointment only.

Library hours are temporarily reduced from October 4, 2025 to January 3, 2026 as we implement a phased staffing transition. Through November and December 2025, in-person library hours are on select Fridays, 1-3 pm.

To book an appointment, visit Calendly. All appointments to our research library cost $15 per visit, and remain free for members.

Our hours are as follows and will be effective beginning October 1st, 2025:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday:  Sensory Hour from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. & Regular Guest Admission from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visiting the exhibit is free but requires a ticket for timed entry. A typical visit takes 45 minutes to an hour.

Reserve your free ticked entry here.

Tours of the Waterway of Change

Free Guided Tours:
Free Guided Tours are available Saturdays at 1pm.

Reserve a guided tour spot here.

Private Tours and Group Experiences:
Whether you’re planning a school field trip, corporate outing, senior group visit, or family gathering, our tours are tailored to provide an enriching and enjoyable experience for all ages.

Contact a member of our team for your group experience here.

Located in downtown Buffalo, Canalside is an area of the waterfront that can be accessed through entrances off Marine Drive and Main Street. It’s also accessible by the NFTA-Metro rail (Erie Canal Harbor stop). For GPS navigation, enter “Canalside Buffalo” or use “44 Prime St., Buffalo, NY 14202” as the destination address.

The Buffalo History Museum and Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation are committed to making our exhibits, public programs, and other offerings inclusive and welcoming for all visitors.

Service animals:
Service dogs specially trained to assist a person with a disability are welcome.

For visitors with limited mobility:
All exhibits, including Waterways of Change, are wheelchair and mobility device accessible.

For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing:
All exhibition films are open captioned.

For visitors with sensory sensitivities or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience, we are offering a Sensory Hour every Sunday from 10-11am with limited crowd size, muted audio components and dimmed lighting. Additionally, we have sensory kits available at all times that include noise cancelling headphones, sunglasses, and various fidget and texture toys.

If you have accessibility needs or questions about any of our visitor experiences, please reach out to guest services at eriecanal@buffalohistory.org or call (716) 873-9644 ext. 501.

Wheelchair-accessible public and family restrooms are available inside the Longshed building and Gateway building.

From Interstate 90, take Route 33 west to Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway) west. Exit the 198 at Elmwood Avenue, turn right from the off-ramp onto Elmwood Avenue. Turn right onto the first street on your right, Nottingham Terrace, and turn into the parking lot at your right which is 1 Museum Court. The Museum is located on your left from the parking lot.

From Interstate 190, exit at Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway) east and continue to the exit at Elmwood Avenue. Bear right and continue to the intersection with Elmwood. Turn right onto Elmwood Avenue and turn right on to the first street, Nottingham Terrace. At the first right turn into the parking lot which is Museum Court. The Museum is located on your left from the parking lot.

The Museum is reachable from the east and west by the Jesse Kregal Pathway.

The Museum is served by the Elmwood Bus #20 on the southeast corner of Elmwood & Nottingham.

The Museum is self-touring and self-paced, so visiting times will vary. For those interested in a quick visit to the Museum, some galleries can be viewed in as little as an hour. For visitors wishing to spend an entire morning or afternoon exploring the history of our region, the artifacts, information, narratives, hands-on activities, stories to be discovered in our Research Library, and shopping all combine to a longer experience.

On average, most spend between one to two hours in the Museum.

Yes! The Museum welcomes children of all ages with galleries that include a number of hands-on activities for children, from historic props, interactive displays. Scavenger hunts are available at Guest Services.

Yes! Your admission is valid until the Museum closes and allows reentry to the Museum any time on that same day.