Explore More Than a Century of History During Doors Open Buffalo

Sept. 17, 2026

BUFFALO — The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor is opening its doors

for one of the Queen City’s most anticipated annual events. The Corridor will participate in

Doors Open Buffalo, Explore Buffalo’s signature annual event, on Saturday, Sept. 26. Visitors are invited to experience more than a century of African American history within less than one mile. Come explore the Corridor’s four historic anchors and discover stories of faith, freedom, civic leadership, music and Black broadcasting. Four anchors. One mile. One history.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

What: Doors Open Buffalo in the Historic Corridor

When: Saturday, Sept. 26. 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How Much: FREE!

Where:

• Michigan Street Baptist Church (511 Michigan Ave., Buffalo)

• Nash House Museum (36 Nash St., Buffalo)

• Historic Colored Musicians & Jazz Museum (at Choco-Logo Building, 141

• Broadway, Buffalo)

  WUFO Black Radio History Collective (143 Broadway Ave., Buffalo)

Michigan Street Baptist Church

The Church preserves a rich history of African American activism from the Underground

Railroad through the Civil War, the Great Migration and the Civil Rights era. A sacred

place in Buffalo’s African American community, the church will welcome visitors to walk

through the restored building, see artifacts found during a recent architectural, dig and

learn about the people and events that made the church great. They can also see the

exciting changes happening at the Church.

Gwen Howard, senior vice president for architecture at Azar Design Co., will lead

architectural tours of the Church from noon to 4 p.m. Tours will begin on the hour, with

the final group admitted at 3 p.m. No advance registration is required. “I am excited for people to see the 177-year-old restored church and get a glimpse of the current construction project, said Lillie Wiley-Upshaw, board chair of the Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition, which owns the Michigan Street Baptist Church. “Great things are happening in the Corridor.”

Nash House Museum

This historic home gives visitors a look into the life and legacy of the Rev. J. Edward

Nash, longtime pastor of Michigan Street Baptist Church and one of Western New York’s

most influential African American religious and civic leaders. Self-guided tours will be

available throughout the event, said Sharon Holley, board president of the Michigan

Street Preservation Corp., which owns the Nash House Museum.

Historic Colored Musicians Club & Jazz Museum

The historic jazz club represents a legacy of more than a century of Black music and

musicians in Buffalo. It is dedicated to preserving the stories of the musicians who helped

establish Buffalo as an important center of jazz, as well as inspiring the next generation

of Black musicians.

The club is currently being renovated, and the new museum is under construction. For

Doors Open Buffalo this year, the Club will present live music outside 141 Broadway, the

old Choco-Logo Factory Building, where artifacts and collectibles from the Club are

currently stored.

“Guests will be able to look at some of the items and stuff from the Club, and learn about

its history,” said Dr. George Scott, president of the Historic Colored Musicians Club &

Jazz Museum. “They'll get a lot out of it. They'll enjoy the music and the stories."

WUFO Black Radio History Collective

Established in 1961, WUFO has served Western New York’s Black community for more than six decades. In 2013, WUFO was acquired by Sheila L. Brown, making it Western New York’s first

radio station owned by a Black woman. Brown, a respected community icon, is currently building a nonprofit Black Radio History Collective to preserve the memories of the station’s talent, and their impact on radio, music, and Black culture. Self-guided tours of the Collective’s treasures will be available. “Every year, WUFO looks forward to opening our doors to so many new people who hadn’t had a chance to personally visit the WUFO Black Radio History Collective,” said Brown. “We look forward to seeing you!”

About Doors Open Buffalo

Doors Open Buffalo is Explore Buffalo’s signature annual event, providing free public access to architecturally and historically significant locations. Each year, it introduces thousands of visitors to Buffalo’s architectural heritage, including building interiors that are often closed to the public. In 2026, the event will feature more than 30 historic buildings, including local landmarks, cultural centers and lesser-known architectural gems. Visitors may choose which locations to explore, in whatever order and at whatever pace they prefer. The overall experience is selfguided, with brief docent-led talks or volunteer-led tours offered at some locations.

About the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor

The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor is a nationally and internationally

recognized Buffalo neighborhood that serves as the focal point of residents’ and visitors’ experience for learning about Buffalo’s rich African American history through its vibrant neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, unique structures, historical markers, people and institutions, as well as its significant impact on local, national and international history.