Who Knew? Buffalo, New York is a Great Travel Destination!
Buffalo is one place I never expected to visit, but I did, and surprisingly, I loved it. As I researched our trip, much to my surprise, I found countless fascinating attractions and an intriguing hotel that piqued my interest.
Every historic hotel has a story, but the Richardson Hotel’s might beat them all. This National Historic Landmark building opened in 1880 and was once the New York State Asylum for the Insane. When built, it was a state-of-the-art facility implementing the most modern ideas in psychiatric treatment.
In the heart of Buffalo, this colossal, ten-wing Romanesque building is slowly being resurrected after being closed for over 50 years. The Richardson opened its doors in 2023 and is a destination for those who embrace the human spirit and its stories. With its upscale décor and modern amenities, massive corridors and soaring windows from the original asylum, it’s one of the most memorable hotels I’ve ever experienced. And yes, I did get a good night’s rest.
Guests can get the full story of this extraordinary complex on the ground floor at the Lipsey Architecture Center, which introduces the original design dream team — the asylum’s visionaries. Henry Richardson is the famed architect who designed this iconic building. The massive grounds were the work of landscape architect Fredrick Olmsted, who designed New York City’s Central Park. The facility and protocol for more humane treatment for the mentally ill was the concept of Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, a physician and mental health advocate. Together, these three American innovators changed the course of history for the care and treatment of mental illness.
While in Buffalo, don’t miss the AKG Art Museum — it’s a destination all by itself. A recent stunning $200 million donation allowed the reinvention of the former Albright-Knox Art Gallery with, among other things, a 50,000-square-foot addition. I thought the new building itself was a work of art. With its sweeping park views, the addition emerges from the lawn like a fantastic ice floe made of glass. The gallery’s three-story sheer glass walls offer giant windows to the world, welcoming everyone to come and explore.
The architecture, landscape, and renovation were dramatic. AKG includes three connected buildings, each from a different era. A new sinuous glass-enclosed bridge connects to the 1905 Wilmers Building. The sculpture garden has been enclosed with a mesermizing sparkling domed canopy of glass triangles called “Common Sky.”
The AKG features a world-renowned range of art, from old masters to the most contemporary. I enjoyed a docent-led tour and saw the evolution of modern and contemporary art through the works of Picasso, Van Gogh, Pollack, and Warhol. The Wall Street Journal cites the AKG as “a required stop for cultural travelers.”
For more information: visitbuffaloniagara.com.
