Okay, let’s be honest here.  As we drove from the airport into Buffalo, I was not impressed.  (To put it mildly.)  In this area were many vacant and rundown homes and businesses.  It was creepy and depressing.   But… by the end of our vacation to Niagara Falls and the surrounding area, my opinion about Buffalo changed.   I must admit that we did not explored this Western New York region adequately.  It is a shame that our first impressions of Buffalo colored our desire to tour this city.

One of the main events we missed while visiting Buffalo was their annual Garden Walk.  It is held the last weekend in July.   Three hundred eighty gardens were open for viewing on self-guided tours.  Yes – 380.  It is the largest garden show in the country.  Even though we missed the tour, we enjoyed driving past homes with beautiful gardens.  Be still my heart.  The gardens in this area appear to flourish without any effort.

What we did visit was Buffalo’s City Hall.  Oh, my – Oh, my.  This historic building is certainly worth a look-see.

Considered by many to be one of the finest Art Deco public buildings in the country, City Hall was dedicated in 1932, the hundredth anniversary of Buffalo’s founding. Its architect, John Wade, said the building expressed “the masculinity, power and purposeful energy of an industrial community.” He wanted an “Americanesque” ornamental building that would dominate the skyline and serve as a symbol of the city.  (John H. Conlin, Buffalo City Hall: Americanesque Masterpiece (Buffalo: Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier, 1993, p. 7.)

In 1929, Buffalo, New York was one of the most important cities in the United States, and the citizens of Buffalo wanted an impressive city hall that reflected their grand city.  We were most fortunate to arrive around noon when the FREE guided tour was beginning. Volunteer docents lead tours Monday – Saturday (Except on government holidays).

Inside the lobby of City Hall is a beautiful three-story vaulted ceiling.  Many of the designs in the ceiling are taken from early Native American motifs.  Stunning murals showing the work of early Buffalo settlers are at the end of the halls.

I could not help but think of the phrase – “They certainly don’t make them like they used to.”  How true it is when considering the Buffalo City Hall.  The details were astounding.

Carved sculptures representing qualities of the citizens of Buffalo surround the lobby.

This is the brass elevator door.

This impressive brass barrier is in the mayor’s office.

Inside the Counsil Chamber is this stained glass window.  Wow!

Look at the tile work on the ceiling and the plaster work on the walls.

I love these doors.

There was even inlaid woodwork on the seats in the Council Chamber.

 

On the 28th floor is an observation deck with panoramic views of the city of Buffalo – too bad it had started raining.

We enjoyed our tour of the Buffalo City Hall.  Buffalo is proud of their many other historical architectural buildings, and tours are available to visit these sites.  We did want to see the boat yards and the Erie Canal.  Also – we did NOT find a place to eat Buffalo Wings.  Yes, I tried looking online, but… only after we got home did I find the listings.    Maybe next time.

Blessings to you and yours,

Seeing the Buffalo City Hall reminded us of the beautiful Art Deco buildings at Fair Park.  I like them.  I love them.