Archive

Tonawanda Harbor: The Lumber Capital of the World

In the late 1800s, piles of lumber stretched for miles as the Twin Cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda developed around the harbor and the surging lumber industry.

Endnotes: Brayley & Pitts Watercolor Provides Rare Look at Early Industry

A never-before-published watercolor depicts the Brayley & Pitts Company, the Erie Canal and the New York Central Railroad, among other fascinating details.

Endnotes: "Sighting Freedom" Melds History and Art

An upcoming summer event at the Commercial Slip blends history and interpretive dance.

Lackawanna Steel and the Battleship Maine

Filled with rage, Americans vowed to never forget the USS Maine, which exploded near Cuba in 1898. Now we remember the key role a local steel company played in raising the wreckage and honoring her crewmembers.

It's a Trap! A Pair of Regional Milestones in Naval Aviation

Naval aviation was born 100 years ago this past January, and to mark the centennial of this important event, we highlight two of Western New York's many contributions.

The Buffalo Yacht Club: 150 Years of Boating

Reputed to be the third oldest yacht club in the United States, the Buffalo Yacht Club has a storied history, including hosting the Brig Niagara in 1913. But the BYC’s clubhouses have had a stormy history.

Flight of Five: Where Art and Science Tamed Nature

Once an uninhabitable forest full of rock ledges, the area now known as Lockport seemed like an unlikely spot for a boom town. That all changed when the Erie Canal needed a place to climb the Niagara Escarpment.

1780 British Warship is Found

Lost on Halloween in 1780, the British Brig-Sloop Ontario became known as the Holy Grail of Great Lakes shipwrecks. Now, after 228 years, this legendary warship from the American Revolution has been discovered deep in Lake Ontario.

Western New York Heritage

The Archive