Melissa Brown is a passionate advocate for history and community, serving as Executive Director of The Buffalo History Museum since 2011. With over 30 years of experience in museum operations, including 14 years in her current role, Melissa has transformed the Museum into a dynamic hub for Western New York history, fostering meaningful connections through storytelling, preservation, and innovative programming.
Melissa has driven transformative projects, including the $3.1 million Restore, Reactivate, Reconnect capital campaign, which reimagined the Museum’s National Historic Landmark building and renewed its connection to the Olmsted Park System. The Museum’s operating budget has more than doubled providing for a more than 50% increase in public offerings and an 80% changeover in interpretive exhibit spaces.
Under Melissa's leadership, The Buffalo History Museum has embraced a more inclusive approach to sharing Western New York's diverse histories. Acknowledging its responsibility over its 160-year history for the exclusion of certain narratives from its collections and programming, The Buffalo History Museum is actively working to confront and address these omissions. Through meaningful partnerships and contemporary collecting initiatives—such as documenting the impacts of COVID-19 and the 5/14 Buffalo Massacre—the Museum strives to preserve and elevate stories that reflect the full spectrum of the region’s communities. These efforts underscore the Museum’s commitment to being a space where all voices are acknowledged, understood, and valued.
Raised in a small port town along the historic Erie Canal, Melissa’s roots in Western New York run deep. She holds a Master of Arts in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts in American History with a Museum Studies minor from SUNY Oswego. Her career at the Museum began in 1998, and she has since grown alongside the institution, shaping its trajectory as a regional leader in cultural heritage.
In addition to her work at the Museum, Melissa actively contributes to the community, serving as co-chair of the 5/14 Buffalo Massacre Community Memory Coalition and a board member of Visit Buffalo Niagara. She also plays a key role in regional initiatives, including chairing the Canalside History Advisory Group.
Beyond her professional achievements, Melissa finds joy in her personal life as a mother to her twin daughters, Madison and Ellery, and son, Quinn. She enjoys antiquing, upcycling, reading, and cherishing time with friends and family. Through both her work and personal passions, Melissa is committed to preserving the past and shaping a future where the history of Western New York continues to inform and connect us—to our shared identity, to each other, and to the generations yet to come.