Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with a free token for the zoo parking lot. Photography is strictly prohibited inside complex
buildings.
The
Richardson-Olmsted Complex
(400ForestAve.,716/849-6070,
www.richardson-
olmsted.com
)
, a state asylum built in stunning Romanesque revival style, was the largest
commissionforH.H.Richardson.Theparklikegroundsandfarmlandsurroundingthehos-
pital were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Buffalo's park system
and Niagara Falls State Park.
When development of the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane began in 1870, the com-
plex was a state-of-the-art facility that reflected a new doctrine in treating mental illness.
The buildings became the embodiment of Dr. Thomas Kirkbride's therapy methods favor-
ing a holistic approach to rehabilitation. Richardson designed a hospital that divided pa-
tientsbyseverityofillness,whileallowingthemaccesstosunlight,ventilation,andoutdoor
recreation.
Over 20 years, 11 imposing buildings sprang up on the complex's 200 acres. The iconic
main building features Gothic towers. Over the intervening years, the campus was divided
and developed. Some buildings were knocked down, while others were abandoned.
Today, the focus is on preserving and restoring the complex. An ambitious multiyear
plan will eventually transform the Richardson-Olmsted Complex into a mixed-use campus
featuring a boutique hotel, conference space, and the home of Buffalo's planned Architec-
ture Center.
The complex isonlyaccessible tovisitors via guided tours($10andup).Tourschedules
change as more of the structure is refurbished, so visit the website for specific tours times.
Twilight tours accentuate the Gothic ambience of the complex. Indoor photography is not
allowed. Enter the complex at the gate at the intersection ofRichmond andForest Avenues.
Afterlanguishingformanyyears,Buffalo'swaterfrontisnowtheepicenter ofactivity,spe-
cifically the public space known as
Canalside
(716/574-1537,
www.canalsidebuffalo.com
,
24 hours daily, free). This includes the Central Wharf and the unearthed and restored
Com-
mercial Slip,
the original terminus of the Erie Canal. Throughout the area's 21 waterfront
acres, interpretive signs explain the history of the area, shedding light on the canal's role in
commerce, technology, labor, and the Underground Railroad. Open year-round, Canalside
is most active June-August, when there are daily entertainment events, most of which are
free. Entertainment includes music acts, historical storytelling, group exercise classes, and
street performances.
