A number of years ago, well before anyone ever knew that the Richardson Towers would be saved, I took a walking tour around the perimeter of the mammoth compound. During the tour, I learned about the building, the grounds, the architect (Richardson), the glory days of the site, and the dark hours that were to follow.
Earlier today, I was notified that the exterior tours are back, in the form of an enhanced audio feature. The Richardson Center Corporation (RCC) has commissioned the free audio tour to work in conjunction with any phone. RCC raised the money through a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Now visitors will be able to walk the grounds of the Richardson Olmsted Complex, while listening to 30 minutes of audio content that details the history and the future of the building and the grounds that are now listed as a National Historic Landmark site.
“It is encouraging to have had such a positive response to our tours and we want to make the rich history of this site available to all who are interested,” said Monica Pellegrino Faix, Executive Director of the RCC.
In order to get their bearings, tourists will be able to refer to a wayfinding map on the ground’s renewed South Lawn (lead image). The map can also be found at www.richardson-olmsted.com. Even those from out of town can listen to the audio tour, without even visiting the site. Hopefully the information that unfolds will captivate the imagination of the listeners, enough to draw them in for a visit. Thanks to a collaboration between the RCC and the Museum Studies Department at SUNY Buffalo State, fans of the complex now have a professional audio tour, with 15 stops (see PDF), to listen to at any time, from anywhere.
To take the tour, scan the QR Code, or dial 716-249-3874. Visit www.richardson-olmsted.com/visit/audio-tour/ to see additional info.
For those interested in the interiors of the Richardson Olmsted Complex, the RCC will announce its 2016 public tour schedule on www.richardson-olmsted.com this month.