Virtual Classes

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

Sing (and even play!) four fun & original songs about Buffalo's presidents-Fillmore, Cleveland, McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt, and learn some history in a fun way!

The name Ellicott is found in buildings, creeks, squares, towns and roads all over WNY. 2026 marks the 200th anniversary of Ellicott's death. This presentation will bring Ellicott back to life in a first person, costumed portrayal set in 1824 as he relates the details of his life and impact on our area including bringing the Erie Canal to WNY. History will be brought to life in this living depiction of one of WNY's founding fathers.

Held in March, the annual dogsled race, which began in 1973, covers almost 1,000 miles between Anchorage and Nome, Alaska. The race follows the route of a medical emergency back in 1925. What are the rules and requirements for the race? Who is Susan Butcher and what record does she hold in regard to the race? Included will be pictures taken by the presenter during a 2025 trip to Alaska.

What was the first computer used for? Can computers change their programming? Do robots understand what they are doing? How much trust should we put in technology like driverless cars?

This beginner-friendly workshop is designed to help you feel more confident and in control of your finances. Using clear language and real-life examples, we'll walk through the essentials of managing your money in retirement. You'll learn how to understand your monthly cash flow with a simple budgeting approach, explore practical strategies to help your money last, and gain a basic understanding of investing and protecting your savings. Whether you're newly retired or simply looking to strengthen your financial habits, this session offers straightforward guidance to support your financial well-being.

Join the Center for Elder Law and Justice for a tasty treat while we explore practical strategies for creating, adjusting, and maintaining a budget on a fixed income. We'll also discuss ways to save money, stretch your resources, and protect yourself when using person-to-person cash transfer apps. Participants will learn about the free services offered by the Center for Elder Law & Justice and leave with a budget template, helpful resources, and connections to community services that can support their financial well-being.

Andrew Carnegie's unique philanthropy provided library access to cities all over the United States, including right here in Western New York. Learn about the Carnegie library fund, and the stories behind the eleven local libraries we are fortunate to have, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Carnegie and the dedication of local citizens.

This class is a lecture on the creation of the Statler Hotel at 107 Delaware Avenue. To understand the hotel, you have to understand the man and the family curse. This topic has many dark undertones such as homicide, suicide, and strange deaths.

Long before movie ratings, Hollywood produced films that openly explored crime, romance, politics, corruption, independent women, and the hardships of the Great Depression. This class introduces the world of pre-Code cinema (1930-1934) and uses these films to explore American life during one of the nation's most turbulent decades. Participants will discover why these movies were so different from those that followed and what they reveal about a changing America.

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.

Master the basics of grocery delivery by learning how to use the Instacart app to shop from your favorite local stores. This course walks you through building a virtual cart, scheduling deliveries, and safely checking out online.

Discover the basics of winter storm development, including lake effect snow, nor'easters, and snow squalls, and the preparedness actions you should take when faced with harsh winter weather conditions.

During the Prohibition era, the Ku Klux Klan experienced a powerful resurgence across many northeastern cities. Buffalo became one of the movement's strongest footholds, with thousands of members spread throughout Erie County. But the Klan's grip on the region would ultimately be broken by the extraordinary courage of an undercover investigator whose sacrifice exposed the organization's inner workings. His death not only helped bring about the Klan's collapse in Western New York but also accelerated its decline across the nation.

Discover the life and times of the real defunct and abandoned amusement parks featured in the middle-grade paranormal mystery series Dead Park Tales.

A lively discussion about fire hazards in our homes and reducing damage during basement floods.

The White House is an enduring symbol of the United States. For more than 225 years, it has served U.S. presidents as a home, office, and stage. Learn about the history and roles of the White House and explore how the building has changed over time.

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.

Western New York boasts some of the most dynamic and world-renowned geological features in North America, shaped by hundreds of millions of years of ancient seas, tectonic shifts, and massive carving glaciers. In this course, we will look beyond the surface to understand the literal foundation of our region. Discover how the towering layers of the Niagara Escarpment were formed, how the spectacular Niagara Gorge serves as a timeline of our recent glacial past, and how local rock formations influence everything from our landscape to our regional history. We will also highlight how sites like Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve allow us to step directly onto these ancient layers. Perfect for hikers, nature lovers, and anyone curious about the massive forces that sculpted the hills, valleys, and waterways of WNY.

From lake-effect blizzards that measure snowfall in feet to sudden summertime severe thunderstorms, Western New York is famous for its incredibly dynamic weather. But what actually causes our region's atmospheric drama? In this course, we will pull back the curtain on the unique science of WNY weather patterns. Discover how Lakes Erie and Ontario act as massive weather engines, how local topography shapes where the snow falls, and how meteorologists track these rapid shifts. We will also touch on how you can read the sky like a pro and stay weather-ready in every season. Come explore the fascinating, powerful, and sometimes wild forces that keep us all checking our weather apps!

Composting is a form of recycling, a natural way of returning needed nutrients to the soil. Let's learn about what composting is, community composting programs to get involved with, and ways to compost at home.

Cannabis has changed dramatically in New York, leaving many adults with questions about legality, dispensaries, product types, terminology, health considerations, and responsible use. This class provides a clear introduction to New York's legal cannabis market, including how to identify licensed dispensaries, understand product labels, compare THC and CBD, and recognize common consumption methods. We will also discuss the differences between adult-use and medical cannabis, licensed New York dispensaries and reservation stores, and important questions to ask healthcare providers and dispensary staff.