Dive deep into the rich past of the Richardson Olmsted Campus on this two hour guided tour of unoccupied buildings. Led by an expert docent, visitors will gain access to spaces untouched since the 1970s and not featured on the one-hour tour.
Visitors will be immersed into the philosophies integrated into the Richardson by architect Henry Hobson Richardson, landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and mental health advocate Dr. Thomas Kirkbride.
During the tour, visitors will experience some of the site’s original structures as well as the healing landscape designed to serve as a therapeutic environment for patients.
Dive deep into the rich past of the Richardson Olmsted Campus on this two hour guided tour of unoccupied buildings. Led by an expert docent, visitors will gain access to spaces untouched since the 1970s and not featured on the one-hour tour.
Visitors will be immersed into the philosophies integrated into the Richardson by architect Henry Hobson Richardson, landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and mental health advocate Dr. Thomas Kirkbride.
During the tour, visitors will experience some of the site’s original structures as well as the healing landscape designed to serve as a therapeutic environment for patients.
Walk the Richardson Olmsted campus with horticulturist Nelle Gardner and explore the rich agricultural history and therapeutic nature of the grounds of the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane. Supplemented with photos and landscape reports, learn about the working farm and greenhouse that once existed on site. The landscape, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, was all part of Dr. Story Kirkbride’s “Kirkbride Plan”. This revolutionary 19th century approach to mental health care focused on fresh air, sunlight, productive work, and recreation. Tours of our historic grounds will be taking place once a month throughout the summer on the following dates:
Thursday, August 17, 5:30 pm
Saturday, September 9, 10:30 am
Spend your Friday on Forest Avenue exploring the Buffalo History Museum’s Resource Center and the Richardson Olmsted Campus! The fourth Friday of each month at 5pm, July through September, The Buffalo History Museum and the Richardson Olmsted Campus welcome the curious and the intrepid for this special joint tour. 5- 7 pm
Start at the Buffalo History Museum’s Resource Center at 459 Forest Avenue. This rehabilitated trolley repair shop houses the Museum’s collection, and guests will have the chance to take part in a behind-the-scenes tour of this incredible building.
Then, join the Lipsey Architecture Center Buffalo for a tour of the historic Richardson Olmsted Campus. Explore the vacant sections of the area once known as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane with an expert docent. Afterwards, observe the work done by preservationists with a look at the new Richardson Hotel in the Towers Building.
Fridays on Forest August 25, 2023
Fridays on Forest September 22, 2023
