The Buffalo History Museum occupies the only permanent building left from the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, a white marble Greek Revival hall at 1 Museum Court in the northwest corner of Delaware Park. Founded in 1862 as the Buffalo Historical Society, with former President Millard Fillmore as its first president, it remains the region’s main keeper of Buffalo and Erie County history (source: [County Office](https://www.countyoffice.org/buffalo-history-museum-formerly-the-buffalo-erie-county-historical-society-buffalo-ny-40c/)).
The collection holds more than 100,000 artifacts, 200,000 photographs, and 20,000 books (source: [Buffalo Vibe](https://buffalovibe.com/local-guide/view/the-buffalo-history-museum)). Only about 10% is on display at any time, so exhibits rotate often. Galleries cover the Pan-American Exposition, the Erie Canal era, and the city’s neighborhoods and industries. Researchers can book time in the on-site research library, which holds manuscripts, maps, and genealogical records. The museum shop sells regional history titles and Buffalo-themed gifts.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday afternoons are the quietest times to visit. Mornings during the school year often bring student field trips. Confirm current hours, admission, and research-library appointments on the [official visit page](https://buffalohistory.org/visit-us/) before you go. Free parking sits beside the building. Afterward, walk down to the Japanese Garden behind the museum on Mirror Lake. You can also cross Elmwood Avenue to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, or loop through Delaware Park’s Rose Garden in summer.
