Current Classes

This presentation is an overview of Michelangelo's life with an examination of many of his most famous works, including the Pieta, David and Sistine Chapel.

Pigeons can be traced back years. They are one of the most intelligent birds and have played many important roles in history. We will explore their life cycle and the fun there is in raising and breeding them.

Step back into Buffalo's golden age of nightlife with historian and author Susan Fenster as she shares the story of Harry Altman, the showman who brought world-class entertainment to Western New York. As operator of the Town Casino in downtown Buffalo and the Glen Casino in Williamsville, Altman reshaped Western New York's cultural landscape, presenting vaudeville favorites alongside chart-topping performers such as Sammy Davis Jr. and elevating the region into a premier entertainment destination. Drawing from her new book, "Harry Altman: Buffalo's Master Showman, Fenster will explore Altman's rise as an impresario, the glitz and glamour of his venues, and the challenges that came with keeping Buffalo in the national spotlight. The presentation blends history, show business, and local memory to illuminate one of Buffalo's most colorful figures and the legacy he left behind.

This class is a lecture on 72 Sycamore, a former 1848 Brothel owned by Irish Immigrant Eliza Quirk. This lecture will focus on the history from Eliza to the current status as Preservation Buffalo Niagara's future home. Dark undertones include sex work and homicides.

Every day, Americans are losing millions of dollars to scammers. Older adults are particularly targeted, and the effects of scams can be catastrophic, both financially and emotionally. Technology is making it easier for scammers to target more people and it makes their schemes harder to detect. But there are things we can do to stay safe. This course will focus on tech support scams, but techniques covered can be used against many types of scams. It will examine how scammers select their targets, the techniques they use to manipulate us, and what we can do to protect ourselves. The interactive format allows participants to practice protective behaviors and begin to develop habits that will keep them safe from scams. Participants will also have access to supplemental online resources to continue to refine their scam-safety skills.

What is intuition? How can we tune in and recognize it in ourselves? Learn how to train your intuition to be more receptive to the messages from the universe! This class will also briefly talk about the history of tarot, how it came to be, and some basic education on how to understand, read, and make sense of tarot spreads. Great class for the beginner and experienced Intuitive reader!

A 9300-mile geology field trip taken with my family in 1993 is told in multi-generational journaling and many photos.

Many wonder what the difference is between a therapy, support, or service animal; some think they're all the same.This class discusses the differences between the three areas, what training and requirements look like, and the benefits of animal companionship. Disclaimer: presentation may contain dogs.

Buffalo has some beautiful Mansions that were constructed in the Late 19th and Early Twentieth Centuries, a time sometimes referred to as the Gilded Age . We will examine who designed them and for whom. We look at some of the architectural features as well as the current uses of the Mansions.

From windshield wipers to air conditioning to the implantable pacemaker, WNY has a long history of invention and innovation. Yet it's an often untold story! For almost 200 years, things made right here in Buffalo (and WNY) have influenced the world! Join Erie County Historian Doug Kohler on a virtual tour of inventors and inventions from WNY that have had a global impact.

The history of cobblestone houses from the glacier age to present. Take a step back in time and discover the fascinating story behind cobblestone houses, from their origins in the age of glaciers to the charming homes we see today. This class will explore how ancient ice movements helped shape the stones themselves, and how early settlers turned those stones into beautiful, lasting buildings. It's a fun mix of natural history and local architecture that brings the past right to your doorstep.

Buffalo's East Side Industry reviews 141 businesses that were or are still located on the East Side. The images included represent an immensely diverse industrial base when the East Side was the ethnic, cultural, and manufacturing center for Buffalo and Western New York. The author will discuss some of these businesses in detail, talk about the growth of industry in Buffalo and the process used to write industry review book. Instructor: Shane E. Stephenson, Director of Museum Collections, Buffalo Naval Park

Productive and positive interactions start with recognizing and comprehending the underlying principles of communication. Concepts such as language use, nonverbal cues, and listening techniques, will be covered as a means of improving your communication skills. Additionally, understanding modality choice and context cues will enhance your communication awareness. Learn how to be a more effective communicator, while avoiding miscommunications, thus enriching the connections you have personally and professionally.

Crime, romance and intrigue are the essential ingredients in these little known tales about some of Buffalo's more scintillating history. These four stories span decades from the 1880's to the roaring 1920's and all offer glimpses into the city's "buried" storied past.

If you are the executor of a will, the trustee of a trust, or someone's power of attorney agent, you are taking on a very serious responsibility. This presentation introduces these roles and helps participants anticipate and avoid the common mistakes that people make when handling financial transactions on behalf of their loved ones.

Reach Out to 911 is an evidence-informed community education program that empowers individuals of all ages to confidently recognize emergencies and effectively access the 911 system. Through engaging, interactive instruction, participants learn when to call 911, what information dispatchers need, how emergency calls are processed, and what to expect when first responders arrive. The program uses age-appropriate lessons, realistic scenarios, hands-on activities, and take-home educational materials to build confidence, reduce fear, and decrease inappropriate 911 use. By partnering with schools, senior centers, community organizations, and public safety agencies throughout Erie County, Reach Out to 911 strengthens community preparedness while fostering trust between residents and emergency responders. The program's adaptable curriculum allows it to meet the unique needs of diverse audiences, promoting emergency readiness, improving public safety awareness, and ensuring community members are better prepared to respond during critical situations.

Bell Aircraft's Rosie the Riveter invites you to explore Western New York's rich aviation and space heritage with a field trip to the Niagara Aerospace Museum, located next to the terminal at the Niagara Falls Airport. The museum, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, highlights the region's important contributions to flight and space exploration, from the rocket engine that lifted all twelve Apollo astronauts off to the moon to the Bell X-1 aircraft that Chuck Yeager piloted to break the sound barrier. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with exhibits that bring this remarkable history to life and to deepen their understanding of the local innovations that helped shape modern aerospace technology.

Instructor: David Faix, Education Coordinator & Docent. Please allow 90 minutes for the tour. This tour is limited to 35 guests.

Address: Niagara Falls International Airport/Old Terminal, 9990 Porter Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. - FREE Parking

From windshield wipers to air conditioning to the implantable pacemaker, WNY has a long history of invention and innovation. Yet it's an often untold story! For almost 200 years, things made right here in Buffalo (and WNY) have influenced the world! Join Erie County Historian Doug Kohler on a virtual tour of inventors and inventions from WNY that have had a global impact.

This class is a lecture on 72 Sycamore, a former 1848 Brothel owned by Irish Immigrant Eliza Quirk. This lecture will focus on the history from Eliza to the current status as Preservation Buffalo Niagara's future home. Dark undertones include sex work and homicides.

For nearly a century, no one had any reason to question the existence of the Village of East Aurora, but for a few weeks in February 1968, East Aurorans were worried that their village might not be real. Learn about the uproar that followed a judge's decision that called into question the village's legal existence, the subject of the title chapter of an upcoming book.

Reach Out to 911 is an evidence-informed community education program that empowers individuals of all ages to confidently recognize emergencies and effectively access the 911 system. Through engaging, interactive instruction, participants learn when to call 911, what information dispatchers need, how emergency calls are processed, and what to expect when first responders arrive. The program uses age-appropriate lessons, realistic scenarios, hands-on activities, and take-home educational materials to build confidence, reduce fear, and decrease inappropriate 911 use. By partnering with schools, senior centers, community organizations, and public safety agencies throughout Erie County, Reach Out to 911 strengthens community preparedness while fostering trust between residents and emergency responders. The program's adaptable curriculum allows it to meet the unique needs of diverse audiences, promoting emergency readiness, improving public safety awareness, and ensuring community members are better prepared to respond during critical situations.

Learn about what causes trouble in family and partner relationships. This is about families carrying addictions, and multi-generational losses and its effect on children, the next generation. Learn what can be done with love to start to heal and live your desired life.

A review of the musicians, bands, DJ's, clubs, concert halls and personalities that brought rock music to WNY by the founder of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.