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Heritage Tourism: One of Buffalo’s Strongest Economic Drivers

Buffalo’s history is not just something we preserve. It is something people come here to experience! Across the country, cities are trying to figure out what makes them stand out. In Buffalo, we already know the answer. It is our architecture, our neighborhoods, and our stories. Together, they create a powerful and growing part of our local economy called heritage tourism.

Why Visitors Come to Buffalo
According to data from Visit Buffalo Niagara and the “Everyone’s Heritage” report from Preservation Buffalo Niagara, 13.4% of visitors come to Buffalo specifically for our history and architecture. That is a big deal!

These visitors are not just stopping by for a quick visit. Heritage tourists tend to stay longer, spend more money, and explore more of the city. They visit multiple neighborhoods, support local restaurants and shops, and engage deeply with what Buffalo has to offer. They are choosing Buffalo because of what makes it unique.

A $658 Million Impact

The numbers speak for themselves. Heritage tourism generates more than $658 million in local spending every year in Buffalo.

That supports:

  • 6,000 direct jobs
  • 2,100 indirect jobs

These are real jobs right here in our community. From hospitality workers to contractors to small business owners, preservation is helping to support livelihoods across the city. This is not a small piece of the economy. It is a major driver!

You Cannot Replicate Buffalo!
What makes Buffalo special cannot be copied somewhere else.

From iconic landmarks like the Guaranty Building to entire historic neighborhoods, our built environment tells a story that people want to experience in person.

Once a historic building is gone, it is gone. You cannot recreate it. You cannot replace it. And you cannot attract visitors with something that no longer exists. That is why preservation matters so much.

Preservation Drives Economic Activity
Preservation is not just about looking back. It is about moving forward.
When historic buildings are restored and reused, they become places people want to visit. They attract new businesses. They create walkable neighborhoods. They bring energy back to areas that have been overlooked.

This is exactly what heritage tourists are looking for. And it is exactly what Buffalo already has!

You can read more about how preservation drives economic activity in the Place Economics study, Everyone’s Heritage: The Impacts Of Historic Preservation In Buffalo. 

What’s at Stake

Every time we lose a historic building, we lose more than bricks and mortar. We lose part of what makes Buffalo, Buffalo. We lose stories, character, and economic opportunity. Heritage tourism depends on authenticity. It depends on real places with real history. Without preservation, that foundation starts to disappear.

Moving Forward

Buffalo has an incredible opportunity to keep growing this part of our economy. But it requires intention.

We need to:
  • Protect historic buildings through local landmark designation
  • Support rehabilitation through historic tax credits
  • Invest in stabilization to prevent demolition
  • Continue promoting our neighborhoods as destinations

At Preservation Buffalo Niagara, we see heritage tourism as a direct result of preservation work happening every day across the city. When we preserve our buildings, we are not just saving history.

-We are supporting jobs.
-We are driving investment.
-And we are building a stronger Buffalo!

Become a member of Preservation Buffalo Niagara today and be part of protecting the places that make Buffalo unique.

To read more about Historic Preservation as an economic driver, please click HERE.

May Is Historic Preservation Month!

May is Preservation Month, and at Preservation Buffalo Niagara, it is one of our favorite times of the year because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate not only the buildings we love, but the people, neighborhoods, and stories that make Buffalo and Niagara such special places to live.
Preservation is often thought of as something tied only to the past, but for us, it is very much about the present and the future. It is about helping neighborhoods remain strong, making reinvestment possible, and ensuring that the places that define our communities continue to serve the people who live in them today.

This May, we have a full calendar of events that bring people closer to that work. From our Guaranty Building Tours to Jane’s Walk at 72 Sycamore, to the Preservation Awards and other special programs throughout the month, Preservation Month is our chance to open doors, tell stories, and invite people to experience preservation firsthand. These events are always some of our favorites because they remind us how many people care deeply about this city and want to be part of shaping its future.

For our members, many of these events come with discounted pricing, which is just one of the many ways membership helps connect people more directly to our work. But whether you are a longtime member or someone just learning about PBN for the first time, Preservation Month is a great reminder that preservation is happening every single day, far beyond tours and events. Calendar – Preservation Buffalo Niagara

Every week, we work with homeowners trying to navigate Historic Tax Credit applications, business owners looking to restore a commercial storefront, churches searching for a path forward for a historic campus, and neighborhoods fighting for Local Landmark designation. We help connect people to contractors, guide them through project planning, and advocate for buildings that might otherwise be lost. Sometimes that work is highly visible, and sometimes it happens quietly behind the scenes, but it is all part of making preservation practical and accessible.
Historic Tax Credits – Preservation Buffalo Niagara

Advocacy is also a major part of what we do. Right now, we are actively pushing for two important preservation bills in New York State: the White Elephant bill and the return of the refundable Historic Tax Credit for homeowners. These tools matter because they help make preservation financially possible. Too often, we see historic buildings threatened not because people do not care, but because the numbers simply do not work. Strong policy can change that. It can mean the difference between demolition and rehabilitation, between vacancy and investment.
Revitalizing New York’s Largest Historic Landmarks: Why the White Elephant Tax Credit Matters – Preservation Buffalo Niagara

We are also seeing the long-term impact of this work across Buffalo. With the recent addition of the South Buffalo historic district, more than 60,000 residents now live within local and national historic districts in the city. That is significant because historic districts do more than recognize architectural character. They help stabilize neighborhoods, protect property values, encourage reinvestment, and create stronger places for people to live. Preservation is not just about protecting beautiful buildings. It is about supporting the economic and social health of entire communities.

One thing we are especially proud of at PBN is that 92 cents of every dollar donated goes directly into the work itself. That means supporting projects, helping neighborhoods, advocating for policy, and creating real outcomes for the people and places we serve. It is important to us that when people invest in preservation, they know that their investment is making a direct impact.

As we head into Preservation Month, we hope you will join us. Come to a tour, attend an event, celebrate at the Preservation Awards, or simply reach out if you have a project you are trying to move forward. This work belongs to all of us, and every person who gets involved helps make preservation stronger. Buffalo’s future depends on the choices we make today. Preservation is one of the best tools we have to shape that future thoughtfully, sustainably, and with respect for the communities that already exist here.

If you believe in that work, we hope you will become a member of Preservation Buffalo Niagara and help us keep building that future together.
Membership – Preservation Buffalo Niagara

Fire Prevention in Historic Buildings: Preparation Saves Places

Historic buildings are remarkably resilient—but when it comes to fire, even the strongest structures are vulnerable. Across Buffalo and beyond, we’ve seen how quickly a fire can threaten not just a building, but the history and identity tied to it. The reality is simple: fire prevention and preparedness are some of the most effective preservation tools we have.

Start with a Simple Question: Do You Have a Plan?
If a fire broke out in your building today, would you know what to do?
For many property owners, the answer is unclear. A basic fire response plan doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to exist. Staff, tenants, and occupants should know:

  • Where exits are located
  • How to safely evacuate
  • Who to contact in an emergency
  • Where fire suppression tools are located
Preparedness is about seconds—and seconds matter.

The Basics: Small Tools, Big Impact

Too often, we focus on large-scale solutions and overlook the simplest ones. Every historic building—whether occupied, partially vacant, or under renovation—should have:

  • Working smoke detectors installed and regularly checked
  • Fire extinguishers placed in accessible, visible locations
  • Clear access points for emergency responders
Fire extinguishers, in particular, are one of the most effective first lines of defense. A small, contained fire can often be stopped before it becomes catastrophic—but only if the right tools are within reach.
Every office needs more than one.

A Close Call in Buffalo

Last year, the Guaranty Building came dangerously close to being lost due to a fire in an adjacent building. Thanks to the rapid response of Buffalo firefighters, the building was saved.

But the outcome could have been very different.
That moment serves as a reminder: even buildings that are well-maintained and occupied are at risk from external factors. Fire doesn’t respect property lines.

Prevention is Preservation

At Preservation Buffalo Niagara, we often talk about stabilization, rehabilitation, and reuse—but prevention is just as critical.
Simple, proactive steps can mean the difference between:

  • A close call and a total loss
  • A repair and a demolition
  • A saved landmark and a vacant lot
Historic buildings cannot be replaced once they are gone. But many fires can be prevented—or contained—through preparation and awareness.

Take Action Today

We encourage all property owners, tenants, and building managers to take a few immediate steps:

  • Check your smoke detectors
  • Confirm you have accessible fire extinguishers (and know how to use them)
  • Walk through your building and identify exits and risks
  • Develop a basic emergency plan
These are small actions with enormous impact. Because in preservation, the goal isn’t just to save buildings after something goes wrong—it’s to make sure we never get there in the first place.

Urgent Update: Ongoing Deterioration at St. Ann’s

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St. Ann’s Church remains one of Buffalo’s most significant and vulnerable historic structures. Unfortunately, recent site observations indicate that conditions at the property are worsening—and at an alarming pace.

Preservation Buffalo Niagara is deeply concerned by the extent of recent material removal and the growing exposure of the building’s structure to the elements.

Importantly, St. Ann’s is a designated City of Buffalo local landmark and has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places—making it a strong candidate for historic tax credits that could support its rehabilitation. Despite these tools and protections, the building continues to deteriorate.

Significant Loss of Roof Protection
On the western side of the building, approximately half of the copper roof over the lower side aisle has been removed. This has left large sections of underlayment exposed, along with multiple visible holes in the roof system.
These openings are not minor. They represent direct pathways for water infiltration, which will accelerate structural deterioration if not addressed immediately.
Removal of Critical Building Components
Additional material loss has been observed across several key areas of the structure, including:

  • Removal of metal lining from the stone gutter systems built into the tops of the walls
  • Missing ridge caps along portions of the roof
  • Extraction of metal from the southwest valley of the crossing, resulting in a large opening at a critical drainage point
These elements are not decorative—they are essential to managing water and protecting the building envelope. Their removal significantly increases the risk of widespread damage.
Exposure of the Tower and Upper Structure
The rear lantern and steeple have also been compromised. Much of the metal cladding has been removed, exposing underlying wood framing and architectural elements, including railings.
In addition, attic windows throughout the structure are now open or missing entirely. These openings appear to have been used to access roof elements, including gutters, snow guards, and lightning protection systems. As a result, the interior is now increasingly exposed to weather and moisture intrusion.
Escalating Risk
There is little visible evidence of stabilization or active stewardship on site. In contrast, the pattern of material removal suggests that stripping activity has intensified over time.
Without immediate intervention, the current conditions will lead to rapid and potentially irreversible damage.
A Call for Action
Preservation Buffalo Niagara is urging the property owner to take immediate steps to secure and stabilize the building.
At a minimum, this includes:

  • Closing and protecting all roof openings
  • Securing exposed structural elements from further weather damage
  • Reestablishing basic building envelope protections
  • An alarm system to be installed
St. Ann’s is not just another vacant structure. It is a defining piece of Buffalo’s architectural and cultural history. The loss of this building would be a significant and avoidable setback for the community—especially when viable rehabilitation tools already exist.
We remain ready to assist in identifying pathways toward stabilization and reuse. However, time is a critical factor, and action must be taken now to prevent further deterioration.

Photographs courtesy of: Adam Hudymiak