Buffalo experienced significant growth in the 19th and 20th centuries as a direct result of the Erie Canal, railroads and Lake Erie, providing an abundance of fresh water and an ample trade route to the Midwestern United States, while grooming its economy for the grain, steel and automobile industries during the 20th century. Since experiencing an economic downturn in the latter half of the 20th century, Buffalo's economy has transitioned to sectors that include financial services, technology, biomedical and education.
Residents of Buffalo are called "Buffalonians". Nicknames for the city of Buffalo include "The Queen City", "The Nickel City", "The City of Good Neighbors", and less commonly, the "City of Light".
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre, (in the UK or Australia) a guildhall, a Rathaus (German), or (more rarely) a municipal building, is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses the city or town council, its associated departments, and their employees. It also usually functions as the base of the mayor of a city, town, borough, or county / shire.
By convention, until the mid 19th-century, a single large open chamber (or 'hall') formed an integral part of the building housing the council. The hall may be used for council meetings and other significant events. This large chamber, the 'town hall', (and its later variant 'city hall') has become synonymous with the whole building, and with the administrative body housed in it. The terms 'council chambers', 'municipal building' or variants may be used locally in preference to 'town hall' if no such large hall is present within the building.
The local government may endeavor to use the town hall building to promote and enhance the quality of life of the community. In many cases, "'town halls' serve not only as buildings for government functions, but also have facilities for various civic and cultural activities. These may include art shows, stage performances, exhibits and festivals. Modern town halls or "civic centres" are often designed with a great variety and flexibility of purpose in mind.
The building was designed by Lockwood and Mawson, and opened in 1873.
Winston Churchill gave his first speech after the Second Battle of El Alamein outside the hall in which he called for the people to 'go forward together and put these grave matters to the proof'.
Before its relocation, between 1847 to 1872, the town hall had been the Fire Station House in Swain Street. In 1869, a new triangular site was purchased, and a competition held for a design to rival the town halls of Leeds and Halifax. The local firm of Lockwood and Mawson was chosen over the other 31entries. It was built by John Ives & Son of Shipley and took three years to build at a cost of £100,000. It was opened on 9September 1873, on a very wet day by Matthew Thompson, the mayor.
It was first extended in 1909 to a design by Norman Shaw and executed by architect F.E.P. Edwards, with another council chamber, more committee rooms and a banqueting hall. It was extended again in 1914 with a new entrance and staircase in baroque marble by William Williamson and listed gradeI on 14June 1963.
Channel 2's Michael Wooten takes us on a tour of the art deco masterpiece that is Buffalo City Hall.
published: 26 Nov 2017
Observation deck at Buffalo City Hall once again open to the public
This morning Daybreak's Kevin O'Neill is taking you to the top of Buffalo City Hall to get a birds eye view of the Queen City.
published: 22 Apr 2022
Take an educational tour of Buffalo City Hall
People of all ages can learn more about our city's rich history with a free tour of City Hall.
published: 22 Feb 2012
#BNDrone: Buffalo City Hall
The #BNDrone takes you on a tour of Buffalo's art deco City Hall, which was completed in 1931. At 398 feet high from the street to the top of the tower, it is one of the tallest municipal office buildings in the U.S. It has 32 stories, 26 of which are usable office space. In 1999 Buffalo City Hall was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.
published: 05 Mar 2021
Buffalo City Hall from the Inside!
Beautiful art and murals fill the halls and walls of Buffalo's most iconic building!
published: 12 Jul 2019
FBI agents raid Buffalo city hall
FBI agents raid Buffalo city hall
published: 06 Nov 2019
Town Hall: Longtime federal investigation into Buffalo City Hall
Federal prosecutors have dropped the investigation into fraud and misuse of federal money at Buffalo's City Hall.
published: 01 May 2023
MLK JR Ceremony at Buffalo City Hall
The CIty of Buffalo honored the late Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. with a special recognition at City Hall.
published: 22 Jan 2020
Haunted History | Buffalo’s City Hall, A Zone of Exceptional Human Experience
Buffalo’s City Hall is a zone of “Exceptional Human Experience,” a term coined by British paranormalist Paul Devereux. At these powerful sites, there are numerous accounts of things that have been seen but cannot be proven, or disproven.
Through his work as a researcher, historian, and tour-guide, Mason Winfield has heard hundreds of stories of incidents of psychic phenomena, shadows darting at the eye-corner, elevators with no one in them stopping to open, and people feeling extreme fear and trepidation at night.
#hauntedhistory #buffalorising #localmatters
published: 23 Oct 2020
No Appointment Needed At Buffalo City Hall
Buffalo City Hall is back open today to the public for walk-in visits...
The #BNDrone takes you on a tour of Buffalo's art deco City Hall, which was completed in 1931. At 398 feet high from the street to the top of the tower, it is o...
The #BNDrone takes you on a tour of Buffalo's art deco City Hall, which was completed in 1931. At 398 feet high from the street to the top of the tower, it is one of the tallest municipal office buildings in the U.S. It has 32 stories, 26 of which are usable office space. In 1999 Buffalo City Hall was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.
The #BNDrone takes you on a tour of Buffalo's art deco City Hall, which was completed in 1931. At 398 feet high from the street to the top of the tower, it is one of the tallest municipal office buildings in the U.S. It has 32 stories, 26 of which are usable office space. In 1999 Buffalo City Hall was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.
Buffalo’s City Hall is a zone of “Exceptional Human Experience,” a term coined by British paranormalist Paul Devereux. At these powerful sites, there are numero...
Buffalo’s City Hall is a zone of “Exceptional Human Experience,” a term coined by British paranormalist Paul Devereux. At these powerful sites, there are numerous accounts of things that have been seen but cannot be proven, or disproven.
Through his work as a researcher, historian, and tour-guide, Mason Winfield has heard hundreds of stories of incidents of psychic phenomena, shadows darting at the eye-corner, elevators with no one in them stopping to open, and people feeling extreme fear and trepidation at night.
#hauntedhistory #buffalorising #localmatters
Buffalo’s City Hall is a zone of “Exceptional Human Experience,” a term coined by British paranormalist Paul Devereux. At these powerful sites, there are numerous accounts of things that have been seen but cannot be proven, or disproven.
Through his work as a researcher, historian, and tour-guide, Mason Winfield has heard hundreds of stories of incidents of psychic phenomena, shadows darting at the eye-corner, elevators with no one in them stopping to open, and people feeling extreme fear and trepidation at night.
#hauntedhistory #buffalorising #localmatters
The #BNDrone takes you on a tour of Buffalo's art deco City Hall, which was completed in 1931. At 398 feet high from the street to the top of the tower, it is one of the tallest municipal office buildings in the U.S. It has 32 stories, 26 of which are usable office space. In 1999 Buffalo City Hall was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.
Buffalo’s City Hall is a zone of “Exceptional Human Experience,” a term coined by British paranormalist Paul Devereux. At these powerful sites, there are numerous accounts of things that have been seen but cannot be proven, or disproven.
Through his work as a researcher, historian, and tour-guide, Mason Winfield has heard hundreds of stories of incidents of psychic phenomena, shadows darting at the eye-corner, elevators with no one in them stopping to open, and people feeling extreme fear and trepidation at night.
#hauntedhistory #buffalorising #localmatters
Buffalo experienced significant growth in the 19th and 20th centuries as a direct result of the Erie Canal, railroads and Lake Erie, providing an abundance of fresh water and an ample trade route to the Midwestern United States, while grooming its economy for the grain, steel and automobile industries during the 20th century. Since experiencing an economic downturn in the latter half of the 20th century, Buffalo's economy has transitioned to sectors that include financial services, technology, biomedical and education.
Residents of Buffalo are called "Buffalonians". Nicknames for the city of Buffalo include "The Queen City", "The Nickel City", "The City of Good Neighbors", and less commonly, the "City of Light".
The city hall in my mind, met last night Rumors of reelection started to fly It's my funeral today, my funeral today I laid it down Underneath the sound It's my principle concern, my principle concern is what you say But I wanted it this way. Cause I'm throwin down without a fight You're more than welcome to look around Consult your checklist go underground I'll claim a stake here inside the frame But I'm going under another way I won't return after today So I'm at liberty to say what's on my mind And it some I like You can't watch me, you can't make me like before When I was yours when all I wanted was the door So I'm throwin down without a fight You're more than welcome to look around Consult your checklist go underground I'll claim a stake here inside the frame But I'm going under another way Decision on the dock head Make up your mind and if you get consensus Drop me a line The city hall in my mind, got together last night