An Introduction to the Tour

Hi! I’m James Morrell, board chair of the Central Terminal Restoration Corp. For nearly 30 years, we have cared for the Buffalo Central Terminal with the help of many volunteers and supporters. Today, you can see our momentum as we undergo a bold, community-driven transformation.

 

With construction and development happening now, we’re building a new future for the Central Terminal as a lasting cultural and economic hub for the community. I grew up nearby, and I know that this is more than just a building to save – it’s a generational investment in Buffalo’s future. 

 

We’d like to thank David Hochman, a long-time champion of our living landmark, for making this self-guided tour possible. We greatly appreciate his generosity and friendship. We are also grateful for the support of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Regional Revitalization Partnership, M&T Bank, Empire State Development, East Side Avenues, and the Center for Regional Strategies.

 

And now … on with the tour! 

 

Photo courtesy of Scott Balzer.

Buffalo Central Terminal
  1. An Introduction to the Tour
  2. Meet the Narrator: Drew Canfield
  3. Welcome to Buffalo Central Terminal
  4. Meet the Narrator: Dr. Ursuline Bankhead
  5. The Rise of Buffalo's Railways
  6. Meet the Narrator: Thea Hassan
  7. Location, Location, Location
  8. Meet the Narrator: Terry Alford
  9. Moved by Community: East Side Evolution
  10. The Big Build: 1926-1929
  11. An Art Deco Icon
  12. BONUS: The Grandest of Openings
  13. BONUS: The Way Things Were
  14. Meet the Narrator: Robby Takac
  15. A Welcoming Sight: The Entry Plaza
  16. Meet the Narrator: I'Jaz J'aciel
  17. BONUS: Mafia Ties
  18. What’s In a Name? The Connecting Streets
  19. The Jewel: The Main Terminal Building
  20. A Vision of Beauty: The Passenger Concourse
  21. Waiting Never Felt So Good
  22. A Passenger’s Point of View
  23. Mail, Packages, and Baggage Galore
  24. Neither Snow nor Rain nor Heat nor Gloom of Night…
  25. The First Building: Railway Express Agency Terminal Building
  26. Easy Access: The Train Concourse and Platforms
  27. Open For Business: The First 25 Years (1929-1954)
  28. BONUS: A Gateway For Black Americans
  29. BONUS: The War Years
  30. Harbingers of the Coming Collapse
  31. Final Boarding Call: The Last 25 Years (1955-1979)
  32. A Light at the End of the Tunnel
  33. All Aboard for a New Journey