10 Best Museums in Buffalo

The Buffalo Museum of Science offers a look at the natural history of the region with hundreds of thousands of artifacts and exhibits, including a ton of hands-on interactive experiences. The permanent collection here consists of more than 700,000 specimens and artifacts with hands-on interactive science and technology workshops, a 3D cinema experience, and the opportunity to do things like create a weather forecast or step into a wind chamber. You can even explore the human body and learn the rules of motion and gravity.

From insects to geology and the Explorations early-childhood gallery, kids and adults can find days of fun and educational excitement here. It's only 8 minutes northeast of downtown.

The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park offers the opportunity to climb aboard 3 historic naval vessels and take a thorough look at U.S. military history. You can explore the last surviving Cleveland-class light cruiser, the USS Little Rock. You can climb aboard the USS The Sullivans, which is among only 4 remaining Fletcher-class cruisers, and you can tour the USS Croaker, a Gato-class submarine that's on the National Register of Historic Places. You can also visit dozens of military exhibits and even get interactive with a maritime simulator.

This is one of the most complete and interactive U.S. military museums you'll find in the nation. It's right in the heart of downtown Buffalo.

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is home to a stunning display of artwork in just about every medium imaginable, with galleries spread among lush gardens dating to the 19th century. This is one of the oldest public art institutes in the entire nation, established in 1862. The collection occupies a stunning building in the Greek Revival style of architecture that is a work of art. The gallery has 2 locations, one on Elmwood Avenue and one in Northland, as well as a mobile Art Truck.

Artists represented include such names as Van Gogh, Matisse, Blanchard, and many others. You'll see 19th-century masters as well as some of the most important contemporary artists of today.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House lets you see and explore a structure built by one of the most famous architects and building artists in history. One of Buffalo's most popular attractions, this marvelous house showcases a stunning and unique design in the Prairie School style. It is generally considered among Wright's most impressive and important works. The house features an early example of an open-floor-plan layout and is famed for its intricately detailed design. Taking a guided tour through this house will teach you about this structure and Wright and his work.

The house was built between 1903 and 1905. It's east of Delaware Park, 10 minutes north of downtown.

The Explore & More Children's Museum offers kids the chance to play, experiment, and explore while they learn and have fun at the same time. This museum has a mission to provide outstanding play experiences that unlock the limitless potential in adults and kids alike. For over 25 years, this museum has utilized a unique location on the Erie Canal terminus to provide place-based play with exhibits focusing on cooperation, water and electricity, lights, farming, construction, and many other themes.

Kids can even take a cooking class here from a local chef and learn all about health, nutrition, and flavor. The Explore & More Museum is located in the center of downtown Buffalo.

The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum offers a chance to see dozens of classic and antique cars, exhibits, and artifacts tracing the history of transportation and the role Buffalo played. This museum was founded in 1997 and encompasses several buildings filled with cars from Model Ts through classic luxury cars and vintage bicycles and museum-quality examples of classic motorcycles dating from the earliest days of the vehicle. If you're interested in history and how transportation built America, or you just like to look at cars, this transportation museum will feel right at home.

Here, you'll see Indians and Harleys, Fords and Packards, and explore transportation in all its glory. It's also right in the heart of downtown Buffalo.

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is a fun, quirky, colorful, and unique museum dedicated to the history of the merry-go-round. Today, this museum covers 6 primary structures with 5 additions, all of which are part of the original factory. They include the Machine Shop, the Assembly Shop, the Storage Building and Paint Shop, the Roundhouse, the Carving and Pattern Shop, and the Mill Building. The factory is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes a children's gallery, complete examples of amusement park rides and antique carousel animals, and interactive experiences.

Everyone loves amusement parks, and this one lets you get into the history of the rides. It's 20 minutes north of town.

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site is a historic Greek Revival house and museum that marks the spot where Teddy Roosevelt took his oath of office. This museum is just a 5-minute drive north of the central downtown area. The building that houses the museum is the historic Ansley Wilcox House. Roosevelt's swearing-in was historic because it didn't happen at the White House, and it was a surprise when it happened. You may explore exhibits about Roosevelt's entire life and presidency.

The house itself is outfitted in period style and is also a stunning historic spot to see. Whether you're in it for the architecture or presidential history, this is a wonderful museum to visit.

The Burchfield Penney Art Center houses a comprehensive collection of Western New York artwork, including an expansive collection by its namesake Charles E. Burchfield. Burchfield is famous for his watercolor works and produced art in various other media. The museum has an impressive archive of this material, among the largest in the entire world. In addition, you'll see sculptures, home decor, and a wide range of modern art. This museum opened in 1966 and in 2008 expanded into a larger building. It's operated by Buffalo State College and is a must-visit for art lovers.

The museum is a vital part of the Elmwood Avenue Museum District. It's located just 10 minutes north of central downtown.

The Buffalo History Museum is among the oldest in Buffalo and offers the chance to see regional artwork, artifacts, manuscripts, and information tracing local history. The permanent collection includes more than 100,000 artifacts and objects, over 200,000 photographs, and more than 20,000 documents, books, and manuscripts. This institute has showcased Buffalo's history since 1862 and continues to grow every year. From the pre-colonial days when indigenous people lived here through the modern era, you can walk the steps of Buffalo's past.

Those interested in exploring the past and learning about the development of Buffalo from a settlement to a major cosmopolitan city will find it here. It's about 9 minutes north of downtown.