You’ve never experienced Buffalo architecture like this before!
Join the Martin House for a curated experience of architectural splendor in Buffalo, NY from Wednesday, August 5 through Sunday, August 9, 2026.
Filled with exclusive access to the many architectural masterpieces, private homes, and beautiful spaces of Buffalo, this special trip is the perfect way to experience Western New York for first-time visitors and locals alike.
Itinerary
Wednesday, August 5
Our adventure begins at 4:00 PM with an exclusive hard-hat tour of the Richardson Olmsted Campus, a National Historic Landmark designed by architect H.H. Richardson and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The tour will include areas not normally open to the public and will be led by expert docents. Guests should wear close-toed shoes, as some areas are dusty and unrehabilitated.
Following the tour, guests can check-in at the Richardson Hotel.
The evening will conclude with a welcome cocktail reception at 6:00 PM in the stylish Cocktail Lounge on the second floor of the Richardson Hotel, featuring drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Thursday, August 6
After breakfast on your own, the group will board the bus for a full day of architectural exploration. The morning begins with a tour of the Walter Davidson House, a privately owned home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Larkin Soap executive in 1908. This home exemplifies Wright’s Prairie School style and is a contributing property to the Parkside East Historic District, a neighborhood originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
At 10:00 AM, the group will enjoy a lively guided bus tour of downtown Buffalo, led by Martin House CEO Jessie Fisher. The tour includes highlights such as Buffalo City Hall, the Guaranty Building, the William R. Heath House, and a private interior tour at Temple Beth Zion, showcasing Buffalo’s historic preservation and architectural legacy.
At noon, guests will tour Silo City, a unique collection of grain elevators, followed by lunch at Duende at Silo City.
The afternoon includes a tour of the Buffalo Central Terminal, a historic former railroad station, led by the Executive Director. We will also enjou a private tour and reception at the Georgia Forman House on Oakland Place. Designed by E. B. Green & Son in 1928 for Georgia Greene Forman, this stately limestone mansion features Tudor-inspired finials, massive stone chimneys, and a Gothic-arched garage. Formerly the residence of the Bishop of Buffalo, it is now privately owned and rarely open to the public.
Friday, August 7
After breakfast on your own, guests will enjoy an architectural tour of the Buffalo AKG (Albright-Knox Art Gallery) led by Woody Brown, Director of Communications and Jamie Robideau, Director of Facilities, Planning & Management. Following the tour, guests will have 1.5 hours to explore the museum on their own.
Lunch featuring iconic Buffalo fare will be enjoyed at Parkside Meadow.
Following lunch, the group will head to Graycliff, the summer home of the Martin Family on Lake Erie, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Guests will embark on a special after hours guided 90-minutue tour. Following the tour, there will be time to shop and explore in addition to a cocktail hour and dinner with beautiful views of Lake Erie.
Saturday, August 8
After breakfast, guests will depart for the Roycroft Campus, birthplace of the Arts & Crafts movement in America. Your experience here will include a 90-minute campus tour, 30-minute book art demonstration, and a 60-minute bookbinding workshop. Lunch at the Roycroft Hotel will be provided.
The group will depart Roycroft and arrive at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, a world-class architectural masterpiece by one of America’s most important architects that showcases historic preservation at its finest. The life-long relationship that developed between Frank Lloyd Wright and Darwin Martin inspired decades of captivating stories about an architect and his clients – and a house and its community. Guests will enjoy private tours led by the CEO, Curator, and Director of Education including access to the new exhibition, Collecting Ourselves: The Objects of Martin House. There will also be additional time to shop, take photos, and explore the grounds.
Sunday, August 9
Guests will depart individually at their convenience.
Cost includes hotel, motor coach travel for the duration of the trip, all tours and private home access, and all dining except breakfast.
Double occupancy, per person: $2,450/ $2,400 member rate
Single occupancy, per person: $2,950 / $2,900 member rate
For local rate, please contact Melinda Rudniski at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House by emailing mrudniski@martinhouse.org or calling 716.856.3858 ext. 212.
Interested in becoming a Martin House member? Enjoy the member rate on the travel trip and much more >
Please Review the Terms and Conditions
Payment:
Payments are due in full at the time of reservation.
Cancellations and Refunds:
Cancellations must be made directly to Melinda Rudniski at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House by emailing mrudniski@martinhouse.org or calling 716.856.3858 ext. 212.
- Refund Policy
- Prior to May 4: full refund
- After May 5: 100% non-refundable
Medical Considerations:
This tour involves significant walking and requires participants to be in good physical condition. You must be able to walk, without assistance, a minimum of one mile over uneven terrain and climb stairs that may not have handrails.
Limits on Responsibilities:
All services and arrangements for transportation, accommodations, and other services related to the tour have been made by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House (MH) only as a representative of the participant. Therefore, the MH should not be held liable for any damages, expenses, or other financial losses to a person or property arising out of injury, cancellation, delay, or alteration from any act of negligence by the hotel, bus, restaurant, or company rendering services during the tour. The MH reserves the right to pass on to any participants expenditures, additional expenses, or losses caused by delays or events beyond its control. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver that will agree to waive, release, and hold harmless the MH, the owners, operators, members, officers, directors, trustees, agents, successors and assigns, from any and all claims, injuries, causes of action, demands, costs, liability, and/or harm of any kind acquired against each of them as a result of your participation in this event. This release shall not be effective if the claim or injury is the result of the sole negligence of the named entity. Should actual enrollments significantly fall below the minimum numbers, a surcharge may be added.
