Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village is an

open-air museum An open-air museum (or open air museum) is a museum that exhibits collections of buildings and artifacts out-of-doors. It is also frequently known as a museum of buildings or a folk museum. Definition Open air is “the unconfined atmosphere� ...

located in

Amherst, New York Amherst () is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. Amherst is an inner ring suburb of Buffalo. As of 2020, the town had a total population of 129,595. This represents an increase from 122,366 as reported in the 2010 census. The second ...

. The Museum's mission is to preserve, interpret, and exhibit the agricultural history and rural heritage of the Buffalo Niagara region. A site, the Museum includes 10 historic buildings moved from their original sites, a main exhibit building, a collections storage facility, the Niederlander Research Library, and a Museum Store. An educational institution, BNHV was chartered by the

State of New York New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. state ...

. Formed as a department of the Town of Amherst, the museum was privatized in January 2011. The name changed in 2012.

Collections

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village is home to a collection of over 40,000 items reflecting the agricultural, domestic, and industrial past of the Buffalo Niagara region. BNHV's collection is composed of artifacts representing the agricultural and industrial trades, heritage crafts, and material culture of 19th- and 20th-century Western New York. Ten historic buildings from the Town of Amherst have been relocated to the 35-acre campus and are available for self-guided and guided tours, which illustrate rural life in 19th-century Buffalo Niagara.

Living history

The Museum's interpreters,

docent The title of docent is conferred by some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks at or below the full professor rank, similar to a British readership, a French " ''maître de con ...

s, and volunteers provide a

living history Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to ree ...

experience for visitors.

Guilds

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village offers membership to many robust and active guilds. Membership within our guilds offers opportunities for camaraderie, heritage skill building, and more.

Events

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village offers community events and workshops throughout the year.

References

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External links

Museum Web siteTown of Amherst official siteVictorian Dance Society
Museums in Erie County, New York Open-air museums in New York (state) Historic house museums in New York (state) Living museums in New York (state)