Erie County Bicentennial Passport Guide

This guide is to help users locate our different historical places around Erie County from home

Nolan Dejesus

A Message from the County Executive.

Welcome participants!

As we celebrate Erie County’s Bicentennial this year, we encourage you to use this passport to visit as many museums and historical societies in Erie County as possible.  There are thirty-five museums/historical societies listed. Each one is unique and celebrates the diverse nature of each town.  As you travel around Erie County, enjoy the beauty and historic nature that surrounds you.

Our theme for the passport is “Shining a Light on the History of Erie County,” so each museum will have a numbered lantern (light) to look for, and record in your passport.  Be sure to have your passport stamped at the end of your visit.

Since Erie County is still dealing with a pandemic, there will be restrictions in place:  mask wearing, social distancing, hand cleaning, and possibly reservations will be required.  Until restrictions are lifted, please call ahead or check the website (or social media) to inquire about restrictions and requirements for each museum.

Some museums may also charge an admission fee; look for a ($) on its page. All museums will appreciate a donation.

Enjoy your “trip” around Erie County.

About This Map

The overall goal of this online story map is to allow users to safely interact with the places participating in the Passport program. Please see the list below.

Alden Historical Society

Aurora Historical Society—Millard Fillmore Presidential Site

Aurora Historical Society--Aurora History Museum

Aurora Historical Society—Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum

Boston Historical Society

Brant-Farnham Historical Society

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

Cheektowaga Historical Association

Historical Society of Clarence

Concord Historical Society—Mercantile—Heritage Building

Concord Historical Society—Lucy Bensley Genealogy Center

Concord Historical Society—Warner Museum

Depew Historian Office

Eden Regional Farm Museum (Welch Farm)

Eden Historical Society Asa Warren House

Evans Historical Society

Grand Island Historical Society/River Lea

Elma Historical Society--Hurd House

Hamburg Historical Society

Hull Family Home and Farmstead

Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society & Museum

Lackawanna Historical Association

Lancaster Historical Society

Marilla Historical Society Museum

Newstead Historical Society Rich-Twinn Octagon House

Newstead Historical Society Knight-Sutton Museum

North Collins Schoolhouse #8 History Center and Museum

Orchard Park Historical Society

Sardinia Historical Society

Historical Society of the Tonawandas

Wales Historical Society

West Seneca Historical Society

Alden Historical Society

Address: 13213 Broadway, Alden, NY 14004

Hours: Open March-December on the First and Third Sundays From 1pm – 3 pm

Aurora Historical Society—Millard Fillmore Presidential Site

Address: 24 Shearer Avenue, East Aurora, NY 14052

Hours: Open June-October on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays From 1-4pm (by reservation only)

Aurora Historical Society--Aurora History Museum

Address: 575 Oakwood Avenue, East Aurora, NY 14052

Hours: Monday-Friday From 8:30-4:30 (Exhibits)

Hours: Wednesday and Thursday From 1-4 and by appointment (Historians Office)

Aurora Historical Society—Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum

Address: 363 Oakwood Avenue, East Aurora, NY 14052

Hours: June-October on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4pm (by reservation only)

Boston Historical Society

Address: 9410 Boston State Road, Boston, NY 14025

Hours: By Appointment only (call (716) 941-5139)

Brant-Farnham Historical Society

Address: Brant Town Hall, 1272 Brant-North Collins Road, Brant, NY 14027

Hours: The 3RD Saturday of each month From 9:30-12:00 (or by appointment)

More Information:  www.brantny.com 

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

Address: 3755 Tonawanda Creek Road, Amherst, NY 14228

Hours: May-October On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays From 10am-5pm or Thursdays from 10am-8pm

More Information:  bnhv.org 

Cheektowaga Historical Association

Address: 3329 Broadway, Cheektowaga, NY 14227

Hours: March-December on Mondays from 2-4pm or the first Saturday of the month from 11-2pm

More information:  cheektowagahistory.org 

Historical Society of Clarence

Address: 10465 Main Street, Clarence, NY 14031

Hours: March-December on the Second and Fourth Sundays of the Month from 1-3pm

More Information:  ClarenceHistory.org 

Concord Historical Society—Mercantile—Heritage Building

Address: 17 Franklin Street, Springville, NY 

Hours: Saturdays 10am-2pm

More information:  CHS14141.org 

Concord Historical Society—Lucy Bensley Genealogy Center

Address: 23 N. Buffalo Street, Springville, NY 14141

Hours: Wednesday 9am-2pm

More Information:  CHS14141.org 

Concord Historical Society—Warner Museum

Address: 98 East Buffalo Street, Springville, NY 14141

Hours: Saturdays 10am-2pm

More Information:  CHS14141.org 

Depew Historian Office

Address: 85 Manitou Street, Depew, NY 14043 (on the second floor)

Hours: By appointment only (call (716) 681-4396)

Eden Regional Farm Museum (Welch Farm)

Address: 8326 N. Main Street, Eden, NY 14057

Hours: May-September on the Third Sunday of the Month from 1-3pm

More Information:  Welch Farm Museum 

Eden Historical Society Asa Warren House

Address: 8639 South Main Street, Eden, NY 14057

Hours: May-September every Third Sunday from 1-3pm (or by appointment)

More information:  historian@edenny.gov 

Evans Historical Society

Address: 8351 Erie Road, Angola, NY 14006

Hours: July & August on Sundays from 2-4pm and September-June on the First and Third Sundays from 2-4pm

More Information:  www.evanshistorical.org 

Grand Island Historical Society/River Lea

Address: Beaver Island State Park, 2136 W. Oakfield Road, Grand Island, New York 14072

Hours: April-September on the first Wednesday of the month from 4:30-7:30 and the Third Sunday in April, May and September from 1-3pm

Elma Historical Society--Hurd House

Address: 3011 Bowen Road, Elma, NY 14059

Hours: First and Third Sundays from 1-3pm

More Information:  www.elmanyhistory.com 

Hamburg Historical Society

Address: 5859 South Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075

Hours: April-December 1st on Saturdays 12-3pm and the first Sunday of the month from 12-3pm

Hull Family Home and Farmstead

Address: 5976 Genesee Street, Lancaster, NY 14086

Hours: 12-3pm

May 16, 23, 30

June 13,20,27

July 11,18,25

Aug 1,8,22,29

Sept 5,19,26

More Information:  www.hullfamilyhome.com 

Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society & Museum

Address: 105 Knoche Road, Tonawanda, NY 14150

Hours: TBD

More information:  www.kentonhistory.org 

Lackawanna Historical Association

Address: Lackawanna Public Library, 560 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, NY 14218

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 10am-6pm and Wednesday from 10am-8pm and Friday from 10am-4pm

More Information:   www.buffalolib.org 

Lancaster Historical Society

Address: 40 Clark Street, Lancaster, NY 14086

Hours: Every Second and Fourth Sundays from 2-4pm

Marilla Historical Society Museum  

Address: 1810 Two Rod Road, Marilla, NY 14102

Hours: June-November every Third Sunday from 2-4pm (or by appointment)

Newstead Historical Society   Rich-Twinn Octagon House

Address: 145 Main Street, Akron, NY 14001

Hours: April-October on the First and Third Sundays from 1-3pm

Newstead Historical Society   Knight-Sutton Museum

Address:123 Main Street, Akron, NY 14001

Hours: April-October on the First and Third Sundays from 1-3pm

North Collins Schoolhouse #8 History Center and Museum

Address: 2101 School Street, North Collins, NY 14111

Hours: Mid-May to Mid-October on Sundays from 1-4pm

More Information:  www.schoolhouse#8.info 

Orchard Park Historical Society

Address: 4287 S. Buffalo Street, Orchard Park, NY 14127

Hours: TBD

Sardinia Historical Society 

Address: 12070 Savage Road, Sardinia, NY 14134

Hours: April-October on the First and Third Sundays from 2-4pm

Historical Society of the Tonawandas

Address: 113 Main Street, Tonawanda, NY 14150

Hours: Wednesday from 12-5pm, Thursday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 10am-5pm

Wales Historical Society

Address: 11006 Emery Road, South Wales, NY 14169

Hours: By appointment only(call (716) 860-4240)

West Seneca Historical Society

Address: 919 Mill Road, West Seneca, NY 14224

Hours: April-October on Tuesdays 10am-4pm and the First Sundays of the month from 2pm-4pm

More Information:  WestSenecaHistory.com 

Message from Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz 

"At times in our history it is important to pause and reflect on where we’ve been, the challenges and successes we’ve had, and the path that has brought us to this point in time. Erie County’s rich, vibrant and bustling history will be spotlighted and celebrated throughout our bicentennial year as EC200 gives us all the opportunity to become better acquainted with the men and women who shaped our county into what it is today. Having this historical perspective makes us better-prepared to understand our role and responsibility in continuing Erie County’s growth for the next 200 years."

Nolan DeJesus, Geography & Planning, SUNY Buffalo State College

Thank you to Erie County for the opportunity to participate and a special thank you to Jason Hurley, Melissa Brown and Christopher Rush