Black Rock Walking Tour: 200 Years on the Erie Canal

When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, the village of Black Rock flourished along with the neighboring village of Buffalo. On this tour, we will explore a stretch of Niagara Street to see business buildings and homes that backed up to the towpath of the Erie Canal from the 1800s until the canal was filled in during the early 20th century. Other century-old buildings show how Black Rock retained its identity even after being annexed by the City of Buffalo in 1853.

Meet in front of the mural at Market Square Park, at the corner of Niagara and Amherst Streets – the mural is on the south side of the building at 1875 Niagara Street, Buffalo NY 14207. Street parking is available on Niagara and Amherst Streets. This tour is approximately 60-75 minutes in length and approximately 0.8 miles of walking.

Tour Procedures & Policies: 

• Reservations are required for all tours, including for Explorer Pass members. Walk-ups without reservations cannot be accommodated. Tours are generally limited to a maximum of 15 people per group. 
  • Reservations close two hours before the tour’s scheduled start time (for example, reservations close at 8am for a 10am tour). 
  • To redeem an orange Explore Buffalo walking tour pass, please email [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance to reserve your tour. 
  • The Explore Buffalo docent for your tour will have a list of tour reservations for their tour; you do not need to print or bring any tour confirmation. 
• Accessibility: Please contact us at [email protected] or (716) 245-3032 if you plan to attend this tour and will require accommodations or if you have questions about accessibility. 
• Please wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for the weather. Tours generally proceed rain or shine. In the event of weather that requires a tour cancellation, we will contact registered tour guests in advance of the tour. 
• See our FAQs page for our refund policy and answers to other questions.
• By confirming your reservation for any Explore Buffalo tour, you acknowledge and accept Explore Buffalo’s tour policies.