The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission has a new headquarters. The organization has acquired 136 – 146 Broadway and adjoining properties as the Heritage Designation’s new headquarters and visitor center.
“This is an exciting growth step! Our strategic plan recommended the purchase of a headquarters and location for visitors to arrive and begin their Michigan Street experience. We are proud of the growth! It’s a vision that has come full circle,” stated Terry Alford, Executive Director, of the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission.
Lillie Wiley-Upshaw, Chair of the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission Board adds, “There’s more to come! We ask the community to watch the growth as we continue to develop a heritage experience for Buffalo and national visitors.”
The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor, a national African American Heritage Designation, includes four historic buildings and museums that tell the stories of a neighborhood that became the heart of the African American experience in Buffalo. The neighborhood included leaders who contributed to a culture of activism and musical culture and who created a historic footprint that impacted the African American experience in America.
The buildings were renovated by Jean Elsinghorst in 2007 and include commercial space and three apartments. The Elsinghorst Building housed a candy mold making business in its day and was built in 1857.