We are excited to celebrate the people behind this year’s most inspiring preservation projects at the 2025 Preservation Awards. Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at The Caz (2221 Seneca Street) to celebrate the region’s most impactful preservation projects at Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Please note: The Caz will stay open until 8:30 PM for the Afterparty! Enjoy great company and live music for an extra hour — Thank you, Jake!!
For more information on the Preservation Awards, please click here.
To purchase tickets for the Preservation Awards, please click here.
Honoring a Maritime Icon: The Edward M. Cotter Fireboat
As the world’s oldest active fireboat, the Edward M. Cotter is more than just a vessel – it’s a living piece of Buffalo’s rich maritime and industrial history. Built in 1900, the Cotter has faithfully served the Buffalo Fire Department for an incredible 125 years, protecting the waterfront and keeping the city’s harbor safe through generations of change.
But preserving a century-old fireboat is no small feat. Over the past eight years, the dedicated volunteers and supporters behind the “Keep the Boat Afloat” campaign have worked tirelessly to maintain this historic vessel, ensuring that it remains not just a symbol of the past but an active, working part of Buffalo’s present.
Thanks to their efforts, the Cotter’s 72-year-old engines have been carefully repaired, countless parts have been replaced, and the iconic red and white paint that defines this storied vessel has been meticulously maintained. Their work also helped secure a critical state grant, which funded the replacement of both shafts and propellers and the relining of the forward hull.
For their unwavering dedication to preserving one of Buffalo’s most unique and cherished landmarks, we are proud to honor Edward M. Cotter with the 2025 Preservation Award for Neighborhood Preservation Organization.
Congratulations to all those who have helped keep the Cotter afloat!
Cotterfest is Back – Celebrating 125 Years of Fireboat History
Join the Cotter Crew as they mark the 125th anniversary of the world’s oldest working fireboat, the Edward M. Cotter. This event supports the ongoing preservation of this National Historic Landmark! For more information, please visit: COTTERFEST | E.M.C. Conservancy
Congrats Capt Sixt, Kyle, Gary, Jack and Chuck!!!!!
Two words .. thank you.