Explore Buffalo is keeping busier and busier these days. As new development projects come online and bustling districts emerge, Buffalo’s tour potential is impressive.
Explore Buffalo is not simply limited by pedestrian walking tours either. These days there are cycling tours, bus tours, and even kayak tours. To get a real sense of just how extensive the tour industry has become, take a look at the numerous tours that are being offered in the month of July. And remember, this is a one-month cross-section offered by a singe non-profit tour company. Now let’s get busy with some tours!
Walking Tours
Masters of American Architecture
See signature works by some of America’s greatest architects on this downtown walking tour to be held July 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30 & 31 at 10 a.m. (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays except July 4). Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building at Washington & Clinton streets.
Buffalo Classics
Local architects designed some of Buffalo’s most recognizable landmarks which are seen on this downtown walking tour on July 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 & 31 at 2 p.m. (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays except July 4). Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building at Washington & Clinton streets.
Five Presidents in Buffalo
Learn about five presidents particularly prominent in local history on this downtown walking tour on July 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 10 a.m. (Mondays) and July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 at 3 p.m. (Thursdays). Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building at Washington & Clinton streets.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fontana Boathouse
Take a tour of the only rowing boathouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright on July 2, 9, 16 & 23 at 1 p.m. (Thursdays except July 30) and July 25 at 11 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour meets at the Boathouse at 1 Rotary Row.
Silo City Vertical
Experience the grain elevators of Silo City on this unique urban adventure tour by taking the stairs to the top on July 5, 7, 14, 18, 21 & 28 at 10 a.m. with lunch on the dock at the end of the tour, and sunset dates on July 2, 9, 23 & 30 (Thursdays except July 16) at 6 p.m. that end with dinner on the dock. Reservations required; tour meets at Silo City, 120 Childs St.
Silo City Grounded
Be amazed by the scale of the grain elevators at Silo City on this ground level walking tour in and around the silos on July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 at 10 a.m. (Thursdays); July 5 & 18 at 2 p.m.; July 19 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. during Silo flea market; and sunset dates on July 7, 14, 21 & 28 (Tuesdays) at 6 p.m. Reservations encouraged; tour meets at Silo City, 120 Childs St.
Riverfront Renaissance
See the incredible transformation taking place along Buffalo’s waterfront while learning about the river’s history on July 1, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 & 29 (Wednesdays & Saturdays except July 4) at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Canalside Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 125 Main St.
Happy Hour Riverfront Renaissance
See the incredible transformation taking place along Buffalo’s waterfront while learning about the river’s history on July 17 at 6 p.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Swannie House at Michigan Avenue & Ohio Street.
Lincoln Parkway
Take a walk along Olmsted’s grand entry to Delaware Park and learn about some of Buffalo’s most prosperous families while admiring their magnificent homes on July 11, 12, 18 & 26 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Young Lincoln statue in front of the Rose Garden.
Millionaire Mile: Delaware Avenue Mansions
Marvel at the grand mansions built by Buffalo’s wealthiest citizens at the height of the Gilded Age on Delaware Avenue from North to Bryant on July 11 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site at 641 Delaware Ave.
Millionaire Mile: Delaware Avenue Midway
Enjoy churches, mansions and the only collection of row houses on Delaware Avenue, with special interior access, on this tour of Delaware Avenue from North to Tupper on July 25 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site at 641 Delaware Ave.
Hidden Gems of the Delaware District
Discover the beautiful homes just off of Delaware Avenue on Oakland Place, Linwood Avenue, and Summer and Bryant streets on July 7 at 6 p.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site at 641 Delaware Ave.
Outdoor Art of the Museum District
Take a tour of the works of art created by famous landscape designers, architects and artists on display outdoors in the Museum District around the Albright-Knox and Burchfield-Penney on July 11 and 18 at 1 p.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Lincoln Parkway steps of the Albright-Knox.
Elmwood Village Victorians
Learn about the Victorian style while seeing delightful examples with intricate color, texture and details in the Elmwood Village on July 29 at 6 p.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Casa-di-Pizza at Elmwood Avenue & Hodge Street.
Allentown Mob
Walk the same streets as some of Buffalo’s most infamous historic mobsters and learn about their hideouts and business practices on July 3 & 24 at 7 p.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Cafe 59 at Allen & Franklin streets.
West Side Mob
Learn about how Buffalo’s West Side mobsters continually eluded the government men while walking around their old West Side haunts on July 12 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Providence Social at 490 Rhode Island St.
Scandalous Buffalo
Take a walk on the darker side of Buffalo’s history and discover where a triple hanging took place, the KKK once had an office and more on July 26 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Spot Coffee at Delaware Avenue & Chippewa Street.
Main Street: Old Meets New
Explore the neighborhood adjacent to the rapidly growing Medical Campus, rich in history and architectural details, on July 11 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Just Vino at 846 Main St.
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
See inside some of the new research facilities and watch the construction cranes at work on July 16 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at the Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott St.
Allentown & Olmsted
Presented with the Theodore Roosevelt Site and Allentown Association, this tour showcases a neighborhood of small parks designed by Olmsted, secluded enclaves and Victorian homes on July 3 at 6 p.m. and July 20 at 10 a.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at First Presbyterian Church on Symphony Circle.
Allentown in Brick
Presented with the Theodore Roosevelt Site and Allentown Association, this tour of North Pearl and Franklin streets, two of Allentown’s most intriguing residential quarters, highlights Allentown’s brick mid-Victorian manses designed in the Italianate and Queen Anne styles on July 6 & 11 at 10 a.m. and July 14 at 6 p.m. Tour starts at TR Site at 641 Delaware Ave.
Downtown Lockport
Learn about the impact the Erie Canal and the Flight of Five locks had on the growth of Lockport while visiting canal-era buildings on July 3. Tour kickoff at 2 p.m. (see Special Event above) & July 18 at 1 p.m. Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Old City Hall & Flight of Five Winery at 2 Pine St.
North Tonawanda: Lumber City
Before enjoying Canal Fest, take a tour of North Tonawanda and learn about its historic buildings and industries, from lumber to carousels, on July 23, 24, 25 & 26 at 10 a.m. (Thursday through Sunday of Canal Fest) Reservations encouraged; tour starts at Carnegie Art Center at 240 Goundry St.
Bus Tours
Buffalo Highlights by Bus: Historic Treasures
Take an overview tour of the best of Buffalo’s architecture and history, seeing all of our major historic landmarks on this 90-minute bus tour on July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 & 31 at 10:30 a.m. (Fridays & Saturdays). Reservations required; tour starts at the Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building at Washington & Clinton streets.
Buffalo Highlights by Bus: Waterfront & South Buffalo
See the incredible changes taking place along Buffalo’s waterfront, from Canalside to the grain elevators to the Outer Harbor, on this 90-minute bus tour that also includes South Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks on July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 & 31 at 12:30 p.m. Reservations required; tour starts at the Visitor Center in the Brisbane Building at Washington & Clinton streets.
Brewing Buffalo: Then & Now Bus Tour
Learn about Buffalo’s brewing history while visiting breweries for samples on this four-hour bus tour on July 11 & 25 at 1 p.m. Reservations required; tour starts at Gene McCarthy’s at 73 Hamburg St.
Friday Evening Happy Hour Bus Tours
Firehouses of Buffalo
Beautiful firehouses can be found in every neighborhood in Buffalo, and while some are still used by the Buffalo Fire Department, many others have been creatively reused for residential and other uses that will be seen on this bus tour on July 10 at 6 p.m. Reservations required; tour starts at First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo at One Symphony Circle.
Mark Twain’s Buffalo
Led by Twain biographer Tom Reigstad, author of Scribblin’ for a Livin’: Mark Twain’s Pivotal Period in Buffalo, this bus tour will follow the footsteps of Mark Twain across the City of Buffalo during his time here in the 1870s; July 24 at 6 p.m. Reservations required; tour starts at Rotary Flagpole at the corner of Erie Street and Marine Drive.
Sunday Bike Tour Series
A different guided cycling tour is offered every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Silo Spin: Grain Elevators by Bike
See many of Buffalo’s grain elevators from a variety of vantage points and learn about their history on July 5 at 2 p.m. Reservations strongly encouraged; tour starts at River Fest Park on Ohio Street.
Pedaling Humboldt Parkway
Bike with us as we explore the Hamlin Park neighborhood along Frederick Law Olmsted’s “lost” Humboldt Parkway and rediscover Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, originally named The Parade by Olmsted, on July 12 at 2 p.m. Reservations strongly encouraged; tour starts at the Montante Culture Center at Canisius College.
Allentown & Downtown Murals by Bike
See the city in a new way as we take a two-hour bike ride through Allentown, the Medical Campus, and downtown streets to study and discuss the development of street art on July 19 at 2 p.m. Tour starts at First Presbyterian Church on Symphony Circle.
Scajaquada Creek by Bike
Learn about the important role Scajaquada Creek has played in Buffalo’s development, from the War of 1812 to current revitalization efforts, on July 26 at 2 p.m. Reservations strongly encouraged; tour starts at the entrance to the Scajaquada Trail at Wegmans on Amherst Street.
Reservations for all tours and events can be made online at www.explorebuffalo.org or by calling 245-3032. Please visit Explore Buffalo at www.explorebuffalo.org for more information.
Special Event
Lockport Tour Kickoff Party
To launch new downtown Lockport walking tours and celebrate Lockport’s 150th birthday, Explore Buffalo will have a special downtown Lockport tour on Friday, July 3 at 2 p.m. Following the tour from 4 to 6 p.m. will be a party at Old City Hall & Flight of Five Winery, open to the public. Attendees can choose to attend both the tour and the party, or just the party.