On April 2, 2021, Erie County celebrated its bicentennial anniversary, kicking off a year of celebration. This significant milestone is an opportunity for the community to reflect on the history, stories, and legacies of the many men and women who came before us.
Erie County has officially begun its 201st year. When the year-long bicentennial celebration first began, I compiled a list of 200 Ways to Celebrate Erie County. The list, which is broken into categories, literally has something that will appeal to everyone in your family and is a great way to enjoy and explore all that our wonderful county has to offer!
Throughout the past year, to celebrate the bicentennial, both myself and other Buffalo Rising contributors have explored a variety of topics pertaining to the history of Erie County. It’s been a great experience diving further into the history of the place that I’ve called home for most of my life.
Erie County residents are passionate about the variety of amazing restaurants and food, the local sports teams and (for better and worse) even the weather.
A couple articles on EC200 stand out as my personal favorites. For example, the series that was written by our friends at Go Bike, “Buffalo Has Always Been A Bike City: A Brief History” (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), provided a fascinating and comprehensive look at the history bicycles in Buffalo, their role in fight for women’s rights, and its transition from a means of transportation to sport and hobby. The piece also looked at current conditions for bicyclists and how they can be improved as well as what the future of biking in Erie County looks like. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it.
Another favorite was written by Liberty Darr – “When The World Shuffled Off to Buffalo – The Rich History of WNY Theatre.” Liberty spoke with Peter Palmisano about his new podcast “Off Road” which isn’t just for theater buffs – it also takes listeners through a journey of the Queen City at large with appearances from members of the history museum, the botanical gardens and even BPO director JoAnn Falletta.
Some of my favorite pieces that I’ve worked on for our EC200 series have been about the history of the area. I went to school for history and cultural anthropology so anything related to those fields will almost always interest me. I’ve listed my favorites below.
Honoring Five Female Trailblazers in Art, Business, Community, Law, and Tech
Continuing in the spirit of EC200, CEPA is hosting multiple events to celebrate our local history, art, design, and culture. The collaborating organizations include the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and the Western New York Minority Media Professionals.
The opening reception for Unearthing Erie County, Faces & Places of the CEPA Archives was on April 8. The exhibition includes historic Buffalo photographs as well as new work created by contemporary artists, Alex Cassetti, Cathay Panebianco, and Gerald Mead, inspired by CEPA’s archive collection. The show is located in the first floor Focus Gallery and will run until April 30, 2022.
A City and its School, an installation of two internationally debuted exhibitions exploring the urban landscapes of Buffalo and the School’s work within them over the past 50 years, also opened on April 8. This exhibit not only celebrates CEPA’s fantastic photo archives, but also the School of Architecture and Planning’s investment in its host city.
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month, CEPA Gallery will be hosting a staple event in Buffalo’s music scene, the Great Day in Jazz on Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 2-6 pm. Join CEPA for a reception, fun photo opportunities, and some lively jazz performances.
All three events will be taking place in the historic Market Arcade Building located at 617 Main St in Buffalo. The exhibitions will be on view until April 30, 2022. Information about all 3 exhibits can be found here.
