Explore Buffalo

Happy Halloween from Explore Boooffalo! Wishing everyone a safe holiday weekend! Put on your favorite scary movie, get your carved pumpkins in place, and if you're out and about we hope you're getting creative with masks!

A great quote from Yuri Kochiyama reminding us that we all have an impact on one another! Yuri Kochiyama (1921-2014) was an American civil rights activist advocating for social justice and equality, Kochiyama was an advocate until she died in 2014. Kochiyama started her activism career when she and her family were forced into American internment camps in the mid-1940s. Kochiyama worked with other well-known activists throughout her life, such as Malcolm X! To learn more about Yuri Kochiyama and the work that she did, please visit: https://blogs.brown.edu//historical-figure/yuri-kochiyama/

Looking for some new Buffalo-themed art to freshen up your space? This Buffalo New York Nicknames letterpress print is a collaboration between us and The Western New York Book Arts Center. Proceeds from the sale of this print support both WNYBAC and Explore Buffalo and it comes in three different colors! There is limited stock so head to https://wnybookarts.org//buffalo-new-york-nicknames-lette/ and get yours before they sell out.

#TeachableThursday fun facts for you this afternoon! "X" is for St. Francis XAVIER Church, better known today as The Buffalo Religious Arts Center in Black Rock. The Buffalo Religious Arts Center was established in 2008, preventing St. Francis Xavier from being left abandoned and exposed to weather and vandalism. Its goal is to collect and preserve the art from many area houses of worship that have been forced to close over the years.... The museum is one of only a handful in the US dedicated specifically to preserving religious art. The murals originally designed for the St Francis Xavier congregation were installed in 1913 by the Benedictine Monk Father Raphael. Additionally, the stained glass windows contain depictions of the Stations of the Cross, the only example of such in the City of Buffalo. The Arts Center also contains the organ installed for the St. Francis Xavier church, designed by Herman Schlicker. It is still operational today. Additionally, the Arts Center contains numerous statues, paintings, artifacts, and photographs from other closed houses of worship within its gallery. The Buffalo Religious Arts Center is open for tours by appointment. You can call 716-481-2350 to book a tour. Have you visited the Buffalo Religious Arts Center? This is certainly a museum that is off the beaten path for many visitors and locals alike! If you go, be sure to tag your pictures with #ExploreBuffalo so that we can feature them on our social media! See you next week as we explore the letter "Y"

We had to get creative this week for #TeachableThursdays as we explore the letter "X." So here we go! X is for St. Francis Xavier Church is Black Rock! Better known now as The Buffalo Religious Arts Center Check out these did you know facts and we'll see you this afternoon for more info about this Buffalo landmark!

Limited tickets available for our October Explore @ Home Live Presentation "A Grave Discussion." Reserve your spot and tune in on Thursday, October 29th as we dive into this area's very first burial grounds - former, abandoned, and the oldest cemeteries that exist today. General admission $10 Student admission $5 Explorer Pass Holders FREE... More information at https://explorebuffalo.org/live/grave-discussion/

Here are our tour offerings this week! We're looking forward to getting out and exploring, hope to see you on a tour! https://explorebuffalo.org/calendar/ Special shout out to our October Explore @ Home digital program- "A Grave Discussion" coming up on Thursday at 7pm on Zoom. Tickets still available! https://explorebuffalo.org/live/grave-discussion/

Yep, November Tours are on the calendar! We're keeping our walking tours going through Saturday, November 14th so head to www.explorebuffalo.org/calendar/ and check out our schedule. Let's continue to explore together this fall, in person and online!

Get your tickets for the zoom presentation A Grave Discussion this coming Thursday at 7pm! Come listen to a casual presentation by Explore Buffalo docent Judy Tucker that focuses on this area's very first burial grounds - former, abandoned, and the oldest cemeteries that exist today. Perfect for the season this presentation on zoom is part of our ongoing Explore @ Home Live Presentation Series and we hope to see you there! https://explorebuffalo.org/live/grave-discussion/

New Buffalo Rising article up! This week, Explore Buffalo docent Kathleen Brown delves deeper into a story covered on our Ohio Street Resurgence tour. The E & B Holmes Company, located at 59 Chicago Street, was a company that was revolutionary in more ways than one! You can check out this tour for yourself tomorrow, Sunday, October 25th or Thursday, October 29! More info at https://explorebuffalo.org/neighbor/ohio-street-resurgence/

Some powerful and inspirational words for your Saturday morning! Ellen Page is a Canadian actress, producer, and an outspoken activist for LGBTQ+ rights! Starting her acting career at the age of 10, Page has played many different roles in television and movies, most recently starring in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy. To learn more about LGBTQ+ history, please visit: https://www.businessinsider.com/gay-rights-marriage-timelin