tour of buffalo city hall

Buffalo City Hall Tours

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Buffalo City Hall

Buffalo City Hall Tour

Buffalo’s City Hall is one of the largest in the country.

Built in 1932 by the John W. Cooper Company, the landmark is constructed with an art deco style with a touch of modern flair that shows through on all 32 floors of the building.

Tours of the building are offered to the public every weekday at 12 noon and run for about an hour. It takes guests inside the building. Visitors see locations like the lobby, the Common Council Chambers, the Mayor’s office and the observation deck, which has an amazing view of Buffalo.

The lobby of City Hall can be compared to a museum. It has numerous paintings lining its walls and statues that mark the four corridors of the room. These statues, titled Virtue ,  Dilligence , Good Citizenship , Service and Fidelity, each signify a different quality of Buffalo’s community.

The paintings and murals on the walls depict Buffalo’s history. Some of the images show a commitment to production and industry with machines and airplanes and other objects. Other artwork showcases the city’s close proximity to Canada, and public works and service.

The Common Council Chambers is on the thirteenth floor of the building. The room has a large stained-glass window as the focal point, inspired by a sunburst.

The observation deck is located on the 28th floor of City Hall and provides a panoramic, 360-degree view of Buffalo. On a clear day, guests can see the mist from Niagara Falls, and even as far as Canada in the distance, which lays Northeast of the building. Individuals who want to go onto the observation deck do not need to be a part of the tour, as the observation deck is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m..

“Nice old historic building, great architecture, the best part on the very top is an observation deck that looks out over the city and lake Erie and Buffalo waterfront.” —John, TripAdvisor

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Overlooking Buffalo from the Buffalo City Hall Observation Deck

One of my favorite things to do when visiting a city is to get above it all at an observation deck. So, when I visited Buffalo for the first time, I knew I had to check out the observation deck at Buffalo City Hall.

The Buffalo City Hall Observation Deck is located at the top of this beautiful building in the heart of the city. Completed in 1931 and 378 feet in height, this Art Deco building is one of the tallest structures in western New York.

Sitting on the building’s 28th floor, the observation deck offers 360-degree views of Buffalo from approximately 300 feet above the streets below. Even cooler, on a clear day, you can see the mist from Niagara Falls and the skyline of the Canadian side of the border more than 16 miles away.

The Observation Deck at Buffalo City Hall consists of two parts.

The first is an interior space that features displays on the city’s history and signage about what you can see. If you are the type to get vertigo (or if you visit on a rainy day), you can still enjoy the view through the windows of this interior space.

For those that want to full view, however, head through the heavy doors onto the Plexiglass enclosed observation deck. This narrow space travels the entire circumference of the building, offering views in every direction.

Unfortunately, the Plexiglass makes photos a bit difficult from the observation deck. I wish they had created a few small holes for cameras or used metal bars. Nevertheless, it doesn’t impact the views, and it’s still possible to get some nice shots from here with a little work.

In my mind, the best views were looking to the east and seeing the other skyscrapers in downtown Buffalo and looking to the northwest to see Niagara Falls. That being said, definitely take your time to enjoy the views in every direction.

Once you’ve enjoyed the views, return inside and take a few minutes to look over the displays in the interior of the space. These displays offer some really interesting information about the history of the city and even include some great aerial photos from Buffalo’s past.

Before leaving the building, take a few minutes in the lobby to enjoy the incredible works of art inside Buffalo City Hall. This is definitely one of the most beautiful city halls I’ve ever visited, and it’s worth spending a bit of timing taking it in.

Without a doubt, the observation deck at Buffalo City Hall is one of the best free things to do in western New York and should be on the list of anyone visiting the city that hasn’t taken in this great view.

How to Visit the Observation Deck at Buffalo City Hall

The Observation Deck at Buffalo City Hall is located on the 28th floor of the building and is open weekdays from 8:30am until 4pm.

The entrance to the observation deck is through the main lobby of Buffalo City Hall. All guests will be required to pass through a metal detector.

Once inside the lobby, take the elevator to the 25th floor. From here, follow signs to the stairwell and climb three flights of stairs to the observation deck. Unfortunately, I don’t believe there is any way to access the deck without climbing the stairs (if you know otherwise, please let me know).

There is a free tour of the building each weekday at 12pm that includes a stop at the observation deck for those wanting to know more about the building.

There is no specific parking area for the observation deck, but there is ample street parking near City Hall.

Looking for more things to do in Buffalo, NY ? Check out the Buffalo Zoo , the birthplace of Buffalo wings , the Martin House Complex , and Explore & More Children’s Museum . There is also a fantastic free observation deck at Corning Tower in Albany .

More nearby places worth exploring

The Buffalo Zoo: Exploring the United State’s 3rd Oldest Zoo

Festive Fun at the Festival of Lights near Buffalo, NY

The Buffalo History Museum: What It’s Like to Visit this Gem

The Richardson Hotel Review: Spending the Night in a Historic Asylum in Buffalo

Find more things to do in greater niagara.

Jim Cheney is the creator of Uncovering New York. After spending 5.5 years exploring Pennsylvania, Jim discovered a love for New York and is excited to spend time exploring this great state and uncovering the best things to do here.

2 thoughts on “Overlooking Buffalo from the Buffalo City Hall Observation Deck”

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Buffalo City Hall Observation Deck

• 65 Niagara Square
• Buffalo, NY 14202
• (716) 851-4890

To see "Windows on Buffalo", take an elevator to the 25th floor and walk up 3 flights for a spectacular view of the Queen City! Dedicated in 1932, City Hall is an Art Deco masterpiece with outstanding murals in the grand lobby. Also see the magnificent skylight in the Common Council Chambers on the 13th floor.

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Buffalo City Hall

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Buffalo City Hall (NY): Address, Phone Number, Attraction Reviews - Tripadvisor

Buffalo City Hall

From the architects George J. Dietel and John J. Wade, Buffalo City Hall was built between 1929-1931. Buffalo City Hall is an Art Deco masterpiece with outstanding murals depicting the city’s history and industry. Common Council Chamber with exquisite skylight and sculptures are a must see. Observation Tower gives a spectacular view of the waterfront and the Ellicott radial street design for Buffalo. Closed weekends and holidays.

Visit Buffalo Niagara

Visitor Information: 800.283.3256

Main Office: 716.852.0511

Main Fax: 716.852.0131

403 Main Street, Suite 630 Buffalo, New York 14203-1496

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Enjoy Never-Ending Views Of Buffalo And Beyond From The City Hall Observation Deck

Writer for Only In Your State. Scribbling about all things New York and Buffalo related while also keeping you updated on the latest travel news! Inquiries: [email protected]

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In a city that’s situated along one of America’s Great Lakes, Buffalonians are more than familiar with enjoying beautiful views. If you’re ready to take on a one-of-a-kind adventure that will leave you in awe, then there’s no better free activity to enjoy than a tour of one of Buffalo’s most stunning landmarks. See for yourself!

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Featured Addresses

Buffalo City Hall

Top choice in Buffalo

This 32-story art deco masterpiece, opened in 1931 and beautifully detailed inside and out, towers over downtown. It's worth joining the free tour at noon that includes access to the mayor's office, the council chamber and the open-air observation deck.

65 Niagara Sq

Get In Touch

716-852-3300

https://​www​.preservationbuffaloniagara​.org​/

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Preservation Buffalo Niagara

Building on our past for your future!

Buffalo City Hall: Americanesque Masterpiece

Preservation Buffalo Niagara is thrilled to announce the re-release of B uffalo City Hall: Americanesque Masterpiec e.

Buffalo City Hall: Americanesque Masterpiece was first produced in 1993 by the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier (which subsequently became Preservation Buffalo Niagara), originally authored by John Conlin and including original photography by Biff Heinrich to coincide with an exhibition at the Burchfield Penny Art Center entitled “Buffalo’s City Hall: The Politics of Architecture and Design.”

This new version has been updated and edited by Preservation Buffalo Niagara to include new information and additional citations, along with additional historic images, and new original photography. Design services were provided by White Bicycle. A special debt of gratitude belongs to Jodi Lynn Maracle for her assistance in properly identifying and describing the Indigenous imagery and symbolism of the building. 

Finally, this new publication would not have been possible without the financial support of the Charles D. and Mary A. Bauer Foundation.

Donate to claim your order copy of Buffalo City Hall: Americanesque Masterpiece!

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Action Insights

Breaking Down City Hall’s Silos: Collaborative Innovation in Practice

• Authors Katharine Robb, Ashley Marcoux, Eleanor Dickens, Jorrit de Jong, Christopher Swope

Last Updated Jun 4, 2024 Topics Collaboration, Innovation Location United States

What happens when city leaders collaborate with residents and partners in and out of city hall to solve complex problems? A study supported by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative finds answers in a long-running community cleanup program in Buffalo, N.Y.

Read the Action Insights below, or download as a PDF for use later.

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Every city leader knows the adage that city hall must “break down silos” and collaborate more across agencies. The problem is those “silos” exist for a reason. Departmental specialization and division of labor can make the routine daily work of local government—jobs like filling potholes, picking up trash, or enforcing traffic laws—more efficient.

However, cities are complex places. And increasingly, the kinds of problems they’re facing, from homelessness to climate change to opioids, touch many departments, jurisdictions, and service providers at once. In this environment, collaborating across organizational boundaries is more important than ever—as is engaging residents to ensure that solutions have community buy-in and legitimacy.

But when is collaboration worth the effort? And how does it really work in practice? A study in the journal Administration & Society explores the benefits and tradeoffs that arise from practicing “collaborative innovation.” The findings can help city leaders understand and intentionally design collaborative innovation initiatives to unlock new ways of tackling tough problems.

Learning from Buffalo

For as much as mayors, scholars, and management consultants talk about breaking down silos, few empirical studies have examined how doing so actually works at the operational level. We set out to change that by looking at a long-running city-led collaboration in Buffalo, N.Y.: the Clean Sweep Initiative .

Clean Sweep began in the late 1990s with the goal of improving quality of life in Buffalo’s poorest neighborhoods. Every Wednesday morning from May through October, dozens of city staff from more than ten departments, along with community partners, flood into a two- or three-block area and close the streets to traffic. They go door-to-door talking with residents about what problems they’re facing and enhance the neighborhood through a range of city services such as tree trimming, brush cleanup, graffiti removal, boarding up vacant houses, and more. Cities across the U.S. and around the globe have replicated Buffalo’s model.

Clean Sweep exemplifies collaborative innovation in action: the effort brings organizations in and out of city hall together at scale—in close coordination with block clubs and community leaders—week after week. While Clean Sweep is targeted specifically at neighborhood development issues, its structure is relevant to other policy contexts, from economic development to housing to crime reduction.

We interviewed dozens of city staff, community partners, and residents involved in these operations, and held focus group discussions with residents whose blocks had received a Clean Sweep to find out what city leaders can learn from Buffalo.

Three ways collaborative innovation works

We found three ways that collaborative innovation in the Buffalo program works in practice. Knowing what these are can help city leaders be intentional about how they structure their own collaborative efforts (see figure 1).

Figure 1: Social Outcome Generation Through Collaborative Innovation

Buffalo’s Clean Sweep is just one example of a city-led collaboration; initiatives in other cities aimed at other issues may look different. However, Clean Sweep does offer a glimpse at conditions under which collaboration is more likely to work. City leaders looking to build on Buffalo’s experience in their own collaborative efforts should keep the following in mind:

To be sure, none of this is easy. There were plenty of complaints from all sides. Collaborative innovation can be messy. Residents don’t always agree with each other on what their biggest priorities are. Distrust between agencies—or between residents and city hall—can get in the way of problem solving. The most common criticism we heard was that the intensive coordination involved in working collaboratively takes more time and effort.

But city staff, partners, and residents also found that the tradeoffs are worth it. “If you do it right, it’s slower because you’re engaging with the community. You’re finding out what they need. You’re trying to craft an appropriate response,” the city’s former chief building inspector told us. “But it’s much more effective. Whenever you have a group of people meeting, it can be sloppy, occasionally a little unruly. But the product is so much better.”  

Further Reading

“tackling persistent, boundary-spanning problems through collaborative innovation: lessons from the clean sweep initiative in buffalo, ny”.

Administration & Society

“Building Cities’ Collaborative Muscle”

Stanford Social Innovation Review

“Cross-Boundary Collaborations in Cities: Where to Start”

“teaming up to tackle crime: making multi-agency collaboration happen in cities”.

Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative

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The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is located at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University.

"I have struggled with this decision but realise I cannot continue touring at this time": Robin Trower cancels US tour on doctor's orders

Robin Trower is to undergo a "major operation", but hopes to return to the road in the future

Guitar legend Robin Trower has cancelled his upcoming Bridge Of Sighs US tour, which was scheduled to begin on September 16 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moine, IA. The 79-year-old completed a four-date UK tour last month, but the 30 US shows are to be shelved on doctor's orders.

"It is with great regret that I must inform you that I will be unable to fulfil the upcoming tour of the USA in September/October," says Trower . "I have struggled with health issues for some time now. Following my latest stay in hospital a few weeks ago, my doctor advised me that the only possible way for an effective long-term solution is to undertake a major operation as soon as possible.

"I am currently awaiting confirmation of that date. I have also been advised that the recovery time to 100% full fitness could take a while. This makes committing to a fixed touring period in the near future impossible. I have struggled with this decision but realize I cannot continue touring at this time.

"I know that you will be as disappointed as I am, but I am very hopeful that this procedure will give me a new lease of life and I can return to doing what I love the most – playing live – ASAP. I look forward to catching up with you all as soon as I am able." 

The full list of cancelled dates is below. Trower is also scheduled to perform on the Rock Legends Cruise XII, which sets sail from Miami in February 2024. 

Robin Trower: Bridge Of Sighs Tour 2024 - Cancelled Dates

Sep 14: Des Moines Hoyt Sherman Place Theater, IA Sep 15: Kansas City Uptown Theater, MO Sep 17: Springfield Gillioz Theatre, MO Sep 19: Chesterfield The Factory, MO Sep 21: Nashville Brown County Music Center, IN Sep 22: Chicago Copernicus Center, IL Sep 23: Milwaukee Riverside Theater, WI Sep 24: Kalamazoo State Theatre, MI Sep 26: Royal Oak Royal Oak Music Theatre, MI Sep 27: Northfield MGM Northfield Park, OH Sep 28: Greenburg Palace Theater, PA Oct 1: Buffalo Asbury Hall, NY Oct 2: Ithaca Ithaca State Theatre, NY Oct 3: Albany The Egg, NY Oct 5: Salisbury Blue Ocean Music Hall, MA Oct 6: Portland Aura, ME Oct 8: Boston The Wilbur, MA Oct 9: Londonderry Tupelo Music Hall, NH Oct 11: Ridgefield Ridgefield Playhouse, CT Oct 12: Montclair Wellmont Theatre, NJ Oct 13: Huntington Paramount Theatre, NY Oct 15: Red Bank Count Basie Center, NJ Oct 17: Jim Thorpe Penns Peak, PA Oct 18: Glenside Keswick Theatre, PA Oct 19: Atlantic City Borgata Music Box, NJ Oct 21: Alexandria Birchmere Music Hall, VA Oct 22: Alexandria Birchmere Music Hall, VA Oct 24: Richmond The National, VA Oct 27: Knoxville Bijou Theatre, TN Oct 28: Atlanta Center Stage Theatre, GA

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Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 38 years in music industry, online for 25. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.  

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Buffalo City Hall

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Rock guitarist cancels tour, including Upstate NY concerts, due to health issues

• Updated: Jun. 05, 2024, 6:37 p.m. |
• Published: Jun. 05, 2024, 6:52 a.m.

Guitarist Robin Trower performs at Royal Oak Music Theater on April 7, 2018 in Royal Oak, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images) Getty Images

• Geoff Herbert | [email protected]

Acclaimed rock guitarist Robin Trower has canceled his U.S. tour dates, including two Upstate New York concerts, due to health problems.

“It is with great regret that I must inform you that I will be unable to fulfill the upcoming tour of the USA in September/October,” Trower said in a statement . “I have struggled with health issues for some time now. Following my latest stay in hospital a few weeks ago, my doctor advised me that the only possible way for an effective long-term solution is to undertake a major operation as soon as possible.”

Trower, 79, was scheduled to play more than a dozen shows this fall, including an Oct. 1 stop at Babeville in Buffalo and an Oct. 2 performance at the State Theatre of Ithaca. All tickets will be refunded automatically, according to promoter Dan Smalls Presents.

Trower said he’s been advised that recovery from the surgery “could take a while,” so he’s unsure when he’ll be able to perform again.

“I have struggled with this decision but realize I cannot continue touring at this time,” the guitarist said. “I know that you will be as disappointed as I am, but I am very hopeful that this procedure will give me a new lease of life and I can return to doing what I love the most- playing live ASAP. I look forward to catching up with you all as soon as I am able.”

Trower is an English musician who first rose to fame with Procol Harum, best known for the hit song “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” from 1967 to 1971. He also led his namesake power trio, the Robin Trower Band, which had four gold albums in the ‘70s. This year marked the 50th anniversary of 1974′s “Bridge of Sighs,” which was recently reissued with outtakes, live performances and other rarities.

The prolific artist continues to release new music, including last year’s “Joyful Sky” and seven other albums over the past decade. He’s considered an influential guitarist, mixing blues with classic rock and hard rock.

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One more for the road: Foreigner launches farewell tour in advance of Rock Hall induction

• Updated: Jun. 06, 2024, 6:00 a.m. |
• Published: Jun. 06, 2024, 6:00 a.m.

Kelly Hansen, lead singer of Foreigner will sing the band's many hits at their June 12 concert at Blossom Music Center. Here Hansen and Foreigner, perform during the German television show Wetten Dass” in Nuremberg, on Saturday evening, Oct. 4, 2008. Alexandra Beier, AP

• Malcolm X Abram, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kelly Hansen has been the lead singer of the legendary classic-rock band Foreigner for more than two decades. But he’ll be watching from the audience on Oct. 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse when the band is finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Foreigners “classic-era” 1970s players -- vocalist Lou Gramm, guitarist Mick Jones, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, keyboardist Ian McDonald, bassist Ed Gagliardi and bassist Rick Wills -- will be getting the official Rock Hall flowers. But Hansen says he’ll be there to fly the Foreigner flag and cheer them on, particularly Jones, with whom he has toured and recorded for almost 25 years.

“I’m happy for the guys, the original guys that they’re finally getting their just desserts,” says Hansen. “I think it’s really like the cherry on the cake of a really great career and something that they wanted for a long time and I’m glad they got there. I’ll be there to stand by and be any kind of support that I can be. And you know, to witness and enjoy the whole ceremony for sure,” he said.

In the meantime, Hansen has more immediate concerns, namely Foreigner’s farewell tour, which stops by Blossom Music Center on Wednesday, June 12, on a bill with Styx and John Waite.

The tour is a chance for Jones, Hansen to look back 50 years and to dive into a catalog that includes some of the most memorable hits of the classic rock era. They will be joined in the journey by a current lineup that includes bassist Jeff Pilon, keyboardist Michel Bluestein, guitarist Bruce Watson, drummer Chris Frazier and guitarist Luis Maldonado.

If you were an FM rock radio fan from the late ’70s into the mid-80s or were an early adopter of MTV, then you had no choice but to know of Foreigner.

The band seemingly popped up out of nowhere to quickly take over mainstream rock radio, rising to fame with a string of catchy Top 10 hits beginning with their 1976 debut single, “Feels Like The First Time,” and its equally popular followup, the dramatic “Cold As Ice.” Both of those singles went gold, making their mothership album, “Foreigner,” a bestseller.

A little more than a year later, the streak continued with the album, “Double Vision,” yielding more Top 5 hits, including the title track and “Hot Blooded.” The band’s winning streak would continue into the ’80s and through their next four albums, pushed along by hits such as “Head Games,” “Urgent,” “Jukebox Hero,” “Dirty White Boy,” and the ballads “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” The band’s biggest hit of all -- “I Want To Know What Love Is” topped the singles charts in worldwide.

Original singer Gramm left the band in 1990 but briefly returned for reunion concerts before being replaced by Johnny Edwards for the 1991 album, “Unusual Heat.” A long break soon followed. When Jones reformed Foreigner in 2005, L.A. bred singer Hansen settled in and solidified the vocal spot.

Hansen says the “farewell tour,” currently set to wrap up with a two-week stand in Las Vegas in November, will be the end of Foreigner as regulars on the summer concert circuit. But he says it won’t be the end of the band, or even as a performing group

In short, hardcore fans need not fret.

“We’re not disappearing off the face of the earth,” he says. “We’re just not going to tour nine months a year like madness. I’m sure we’ll be here and there but not like we’ve been before.”

One longstanding tradition on Foreigner tours is having local choirs either open for and often perform “I Want To Know What Love Is,” with the band to help raise awareness of the importance of keeping music education in schools.

The band has hosted Solon’s Note-Oriety Show Choir, The North Ridgeville High Spectrum of Sound, The Nordonia High School Synergy choral group and others through the years. At the Blossom show, the New Philadelphia High School choir will be backing the band. Foreigner will donate $500 to the choir for their program.

“We’ve been doing it for many, many years. And we feel it’s important to raise awareness about the lack of funding for school music programs and music and the arts are the first things to suffer when there are budget cuts, which there have been quite quite many of them in the last 15-20 years,” Hansen said.

“And it’s important for young people who experience the music and the arts to take them places around the world and back and forth and have time to let them grow as human beings and learn about things that are bigger than their own bubble at home,” he said, noting his own experience with music education in his younger days.

“I’m a product of new school music programs. I was in choir when I was in school and and who knows what the ultimate effect of that was on me. But guess what, I’m singing in a band so it must have had some,” he said.

Although Foreigner won’t be “going away,” Hansen, who has been talking about the final tour in interviews for nearly two years ,said he he’s living in the now, and not too worried about the next.

“I’ve been having my periods of feeling it out there and sometimes that strikes you,” he says. “But, I’m in the middle of doing something. I’m kind of focused on what I’m doing. And, and I’ve thought about this for a few years, so it’s not like it’s a surprise. So I’ve had plenty of time to ease into it. So I’m ready,” he said.

“It takes it takes a lot of focus to for a heavy duty schedule, like we’re going to be doing starting in a couple of weeks. So I’ve got I’ve got a lot to focus on so I don’t have a lot of time for sitting down and putting my head in my hands and crying about this being the last nine month tour,” he said with a chuckle.

He also says he has "a lot of work in front of me.

“I’m focusing on making moves with my family and stuff. I’m not really focusing on what might be happening next, musically, after the tour. Nothing is on my schedule,” Hansen said.

Hansen said besides the lost pandemic years it’s been a while since he’s had an open schedule and at age 62 with a wife and two stepsons, he’s ready for something else, at least for a while.

“I have a lot of other things to do, things that I like to do. Spending time with my wife and my family and I like to cook (he’s friends with Cleveland celebrity chef Michael Symon) and my motorcycle and I work on cars and I do stuff around the house and, you know, live a life that I haven’t been able to live for the last 20 years,” Hansen said.

Foreigner, Styx and John Waite perform at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls. Tickets, $32.55 plus fees for lawn and starting at $54.35 plus fees for pavilion, are available at livenation.com.

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