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 As 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 & Archives is currently accessible by appointment and during limited open research hours.

Open hours in September will remain open. However, the Library will be closed for research appointments in September and October due to facilities work in the Library and Archives. You can use the link below to begin booking research appointments again in November.

Open Research Hours

Open hours are intended for general inquiries, brief assistance, and focused independent research without archivist assistance. No appointment is required.

Open Research Hours:

• The first Wednesday of each month, 1:00–3:30 p.m.

During Open Reach Hours:

• Visitors may request up to five materials from our catalog.
• We are currently unable to pull manuscript collections.
• More extensive research requests or requests requiring staff assistance should be scheduled as a research appointment.

Research Appointments

Research appointments are intended for more extensive research needs, access to manuscript collections, and research requiring staff assistance or advance preparation.

In-person research appointments are available:

• Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. — 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month
• Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Appointments are recommended for:

• Researching a specific topic, person, or family
• Consulting multiple resources or collections
• Accessing manuscript collections
• More extensive research or staff assistance

Schedule a Research Appointment

Please review the research visit policies outlined on the booking page before your appointment.

Click here to book an appointment*

*a reminder that appointments are closed for September and October for a facilities upgrade

During September and October:

• Research appointments: Unavailable through the end of October while the Library and Archives undergo facility updates.
• Open Research Hours: The first Wednesday of each month, 1:00–3:30 p.m.
• Appointments resume: November

Research Fees

• $15 per visit
• Free for Museum members

Looking Ahead
As part of The Buffalo History Museum’s multi-year Master Plan, we have welcomed new staff to support the continued organization and preparation of the Research Library & Archives collections. This work will help create greater public access to our collections in the future while allowing us to continue preserving and sharing the stories they hold.

Thank you for your patience as we continue this work and assist researchers along the way.

Not sure which option is right for you?
Contact us before your visit at library@buffalohistory.org and we’ll be happy to help you plan your research experience.

Monday, May 25th through Sunday, September 6th our hours will be:

Monday: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday: Sensory Hour is from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and General Admission is from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Beginning Sunday September 6th our fall hours will be:

Sunday: Sensory Hour is from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and General Admission is from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visiting the exhibit is free admission at the door, our exhibit is designed to be enjoyed in a 30-45 minute visit.

Saturday Mini Tours: “Builders of the Canal” and “Women on the Canal” are $3 per person and can be purchased ahead of time through our programs page or at the door. Advance tickets help us plan ahead, so we encourage pre-ordering.

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 11am-12pm 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.