Downtown has a rich history. Learn more by way of the interpretive signage installed along Main Street or by exploring the history topics below.
Interpretative signs in Downtown’s Theatre District include Following an Ancient Trail, Home to the Upper Crust, When Business was Booming, The Show Goes On, and A Long and Winding Road.
Signs placed at Fountain Plaza include Creation of a New Downtown Neighborhood and A New Financial District. Signs in the 500 Block of Main Street include Roosevelt Plaza, The Place to Shop, and Surviving Crisis.
Theatre District Interpretive Signage was funded as part of the City of Buffalo Cars on Main Street project, though a 2006 New York State DOT Transportation Enhancement Program grant. The idea for telling the story of Buffalo’s Theatre District on the opposite side of pedestrian friendly “You Are Here” map and directories goes back to the 1990s and the Theatre District Association. Buffalo Place appreciates the inspiration and perseverance of the Theatre District Association and the assistance of the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works and the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning in securing grant funds and making this long-desired project a reality.
- Thank you to the volunteers, City of Buffalo staff, and consultant team members who contributed to the development of Theatre District signs:
- Buffalo Place Interns Aanal Sha Vora and Ali Aljebori for creating the base map and identifying Buffalo Place businesses, and for their design work.
- Theatre District Signage volunteers for their dedication, perseverance, design guidance, research, and writing of the story of Buffalo’s Theatre District. Thank you to Anne Conable, Anthony Chase, Ed Healy, Harold Cohen, Mark Tytka, Matthew Steinberg, Neal Radice, Tony Conte, W. Morgan Smith, and Carrie Beth Wicks.
- Devoted City of Buffalo staff members John Bidell and Gary Witulski.
- Consultant team members from DiDonato Associates, Parsons Brinkerhoff, and Clinton Brown Company Architecture.
A special thank you to the agencies who donated historic materials for this project. This public project would not be possible without their participation. Thank you to the Buffalo History Museum, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, David Rumsey Map Collection, The Buffalo News, Buffalo State College Special Collection including the Buffalo Courier Express archives. Fountain Plaza Interpretive Signage was funded as part of the City of Buffalo Cars on Main Street project though a 2011 Transportation Initiatives Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) III grant to the City of Buffalo.
