Reaching for the Skies: The Tall Buildings Tour 1:30pm

Beginning in 1841 when tall buildings were just four or five stories, this tour visits fifteen of downtown Buffalo’s iconic tall buildings to learn how modern technology enabled 20th century skyscrapers. Buffalo’s skyline includes almost every major architectural style, and this tour will see them all. Tour stops include:

• EB Green’s Dun Building, the city’s first high-rise office tower
• Louis Sullivan’s breakthrough Guaranty Building
• John Wade’s Art Deco masterpiece at City Hall
• The post-modern Jackson Federal Courthouse
• M&T Plaza by Minoru Yamasaki, also architect of the World Trade Center in NYC
• The brutalist Seneca One, Buffalo’s tallest building
• And more!

This tour is approximately ninety minutes in length and about 1.5 miles of walking. This is an exterior-only tour.

This tour meets at the northeast corner of Pearl & Seneca Streets in downtown Buffalo, across from Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. Use 75 Pearl Street, Buffalo NY 14202 for GPS. Metered parking is available on surrounding streets. Please note that nearby parking lots require payment at all times. The Seneca Station of the Metro Rail is one block away on Main Street. 

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 18 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 explore@explorebuffalo.org 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 explore@explorebuffalo.org or (716) 245-3032 if you plan to attend this tour and will require accommodations or if you have questions about accessibility. 
• Please wear comfortable 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.