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 EatonBoard Presidents: Chuck LaChiusa 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: 6,2192019: 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 Palmer2018 - 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 |
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by Chuck LaChiusa in 2020
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