Preservation Organizations in Buffalo, NY

Short Histories of Not-for-Profit Preservation Organizations in Buffalo, NY - Table of Contents

Explore Buffalo - A Short History

Explore Buffalo does not list preservation in its mission statement, but, in effect, it functions as an important educational wing of Buffalo preservation.

Existence: 2014-present

Reason for Formation: Formed by about three dozen experienced docents who wanted to develop their own tour organization to educate the public about Greater Buffalo’s architecture, history and neighborhoods

Mission: Explore Buffalo promotes Buffalo and Western New York history, architecture, and neighborhoods through quality education to learners of all ages.

Some of the leaders:

Founders:

Ron Eaton
Cindy Gorski
Paul Gorski
Deborah Hall-Stonish - first Treasurer
Chuck LaChiusa
Rosalyn Lindner
Suzanne Manocchio
Wayne Minear
Thomas Mudra
Ann Palmer- first Secretary
Denise Prince
Rebecca Stadler
Michael Stock
Ed Sullivan

Board Presidents:

Chuck LaChiusa
Cindy Gorski

Executive director:

Brad Hahn

Operation:

Website

2020 - Sells annual passes (no memberships)

2020 - More than 90 different tours available by foot, bike, bus, kayak, and boat: some tours available year-round

2020 - Tours provided for K-12 students from local schools, for local colleges, and for private groups

2020 - Three annual docent training classes for new volunteer docents: winter, spring, and fall

2020 - Winter Speaker Series features a variety of local history topics

2020 - Staff include the Executive Director, Deputy Director, Education Coordinator, and Development Coordinator

Accomplishments:

Annual Attendance:

2014: 6,219
2015: 13,268
2016: 17,281
2017: 18,994
2018: 23,917
2019: 25,748

2019: K-12 school tour attendance increased by 35% to 4,600 students, including more than 1,000 Buffalo Public School students who received a free tour.

2019: Explore Buffalo organized the first Doors Open Buffalo event, providing free access on a Saturday to 36 downtown locations for 3,800 people.

Awards:
2019 - Buffalo Spree Best of WNY - Best Tours (New category)

Visit Buffalo Niagara Volunteer of the Year:

2016 - Ann Palmer
2017 - Chuck LaChiusa
2018 - Ron Eaton
2019 - Cindy Gorski

2018 - Visit Buffalo Niagara Tourism Executive of the Year: Brad Hahn

2015 & 2016 - Artvoice - Best of Buffalo - Best Tours (Awards Discontinued)

Additional online information:

2014 - Elizabeth Licata, Preservation: Explore Buffalo (online April 2020)

August 2014 - NY Magazine, "Weekend Escape Plan: Buffalo" (online April 2020)

July 2016 - Toronto Star, "How to love Buffalo's Silo City" (online April 2020)

July 2017 - USA Today, "Buffalo Builds on Architectural Tourism" (online April 2020)

July 2017 - The Globe & Mail, "Buffalo's past glory lives on in its architecture" (online April 2020)

July 2017 - Cleveland.com, "Exploring Buffalo's Waterfront Renaissance (online April 2020)

Aug 2017 - Toronto Star, "Restored classic architecture gives a window in to Buffalo’s prosperous past" (online April 2020)

2017 - Annual Report

Sept 2018 - Wall Street Journal, "Escape to Buffalo" (online April 2020)

Dec 2018 - Washington Post, "Things to do in Buffalo" (online April 2020)

2018 - Annual Report

Aug 2019 - Boston Globe, "What better way to tell the story of a place than through its buildings? (online April 2020)

Explore Buffalo 2020 Guidebook 2020