The original buffalo featured in the main hall was a real stuffed buffalo. During World War II men leaving Buffalo for the war often rubbed the buffalo for good luck, thus wearing out the buffalo's hide. The stuffed buffalo was removed and replaced by a plaster buffalo statue, painted to look like bronze. The plaster buffalo was broken when a previous owner backed a truck into the statue, knocking it to the ground, while removing the ceiling lights from the building.

The stuffed buffalo is currently residing in the Buffalo Museum of Science, read all about the stuffed buffalo here.

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A replica of the plaster buffalo sits on the University at Buffalo Amherst campus (in front of the arts building). The molds used in making the plaster buffalo were found, and a new bronze buffalo was born. Read about it here.

1a. What happened to the clock?

The clock that stood in the middle of the main hall was removed during the sale of artifacts by previous owners. The clock appeared for sale out of Chicago on ebay several years ago for $20,000. At that time, fixing the roofs of the building seemed more important than acquiring artifacts from the terminal. Volunteers Sara Etten and LeighAnne Bennett located the clock in October 2003, and traveled to Chicago to see it. Late 2004 brought in the interest of WBEN and the Buffalo community on reacquiring the clock. Thanks to a generous donation from M&T Bank and donations from the community, the clock was purchased by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation for $25,000, and brought back to Buffalo in January 2005. The clock was installed in the building for the 2005 season, and now resides at M&T Center in Downtown Buffalo.

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1b. What happened to all the ornamental detail in the building?

Previous owners sold all the ornamental artifacts that had been in the terminal. Light fixtures, iron railings, signs, the clock, etc were all removed from the terminal and sold during the 1980s and 1990s. Pieces from the terminal turn up in various locations throughout the country. The clock was found for sale in Chicago. Mailboxes from inside the building are currently in the The Wolfsonian-Florida International University Museum in Miami, Florida. Light fixtures now light the Men's department of Macy's in NYC. Our lights have also appeared in the movies "The Hardway", "For Love or Money", and "Bullets Over Broadway". If you have any information about other items from inside the building, please let us know.

Buffalo Central Terminal closed in 1979, and fell through the hands of various owners until the CTRC bought it for one dollar in 1997. Years of neglect and Buffalo weather took their toll on the building. Previous owners removed all the ornamental details of the building, and vandals contributed to the destruction by adding graffiti tags and breaking windows.

It is the hopes of everyone involved in Central Terminal that the building will be restored to its former glory. However funding is the biggest factor in any restoration work. First and foremost on the restoration agenda is sealing and stabilization. The building has been fenced and sealed to keep out weather, vandals, and other intruders. Asbestos removal has been completed inside the main hall. The CTRC recently repaired the flat roofs of the building, and fixed drainage pipes inside to prevent the pooling of rain and snow inside the building. The domed roofs of the concourse are the next item on the list to be repaired - which includes removing the cement tiles on the roofs, repairing the roofs, and replacing the cement tiles. Once the building is completely sealed from the elements and intruders, restoration work inside the building can be considered. The reported estimated cost of complete restoration is in the area of 56 million dollars.

Construction on the terminal began in 1927 and was completed in 1929. Buffalo Central Terminal opened on June 22, 1929. Grand opening included the Chamber of Commerce Gala, with 2,200 people attending. It was the largest event in Buffalo at that time. The first train, Eastbound Empire State Express, departed from the terminal at 2pm. Click here to see a reproduction of the original Gala program.

4a. When did the terminal close?

The last train left Central Terminal on October 28, 1979. Amtrak abandoned the terminal in favor of using its new Dick Rd. Station in Cheektowaga, and the reopened downtown Exchange station. Anthony Fedele & Galesi Realty then purchased the terminal for $75,000.

4b. Who built the terminal, and who designed it?

The terminal was built by New York Central Railroad. Patrick Crowley, president of New York Central Railroad, elected architects Fellheimer & Wagner to design the terminal. Fellheimer & Wagner are also famous for designing the Cincinnatti terminal.

4c. How big is the terminal?

The terminal originally included the main concourse, 15 story office tower, train concourse, and the mail and baggage buildings along Curtiss Street. The CTRC currently owns the main concourse, office tower, and baggage building. The train concourse was disconnected from the main building in 1982, when the overpass was demolished to make way for larger trains. Amtrak currently owns and leases the train concourse. The City of Buffalo currently owns the mail building

The office tower is 271 feet high. The concourse measures 225'x66' and is 58.5' high. The building is 523,000 square feet.

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4d. How much did the terminal cost to build?

14 million dollars.

Little is known about the statue that sat in the plaza of the terminal. The statue was called "Progress" and we understand it was put in place sometime after the terminal was closed. The artist is currently unknown, but the statue was made of concrete and metal. During a terminal clean up, an attempt was made to move the statue to the Griffis Sculpture Park, but fell apart due to its poor condition.

From Michael Harris - In regards to the statue "Progress", around 1982 I was a student at Corpus Christi and we were made to visit the statue. We were told the statue was supposed to be Mary holding Jesus.

If you have any information regarding the Progress statue, please let us know.

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Buffalo Central Terminal is currently owned by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC). The CTRC purchased the building for one dollar in 1997 (and thus assumed the back taxes the previous owner owed the City of Buffalo). The CTRC is a non-profit organization that oversees the stabilization and restoration of the building. The CTRC owns the main concourse building and baggage building. The now detached train concourse is currently owned by Amtrak. The mail building is currently owned by the City of Buffalo.

6a. Who makes up the CTRC?

CTRC Board of Directors is as follows:

Russell E Pawlak - President
Michael Miller - Vice President
Mark Lewandowski - Treasurer
Sara Etten -Secretary
Ed Werick
Kate Resitarits
Yuri Hreshchyshyn

The CTRC is an entirely volunteer organization with no paid staff. We rely on government funds and donations, and all the money recieved is put directly into the building or to stage public events (tours, Picnic on the Plaza, etc.). The only administration expenses are for necessary legal documents, and for communication (news letter, website, etc.). We also rely on volunteer work, and donations to help with the operating costs.

Volunteer your time or services in various events at the terminal. A spring clean up is scheduled every year (usually in May). Everyone is invited to lend a hand in cleaning up debris from the inside and outside of the building. Check the events calendar for any upcoming activities.

Monetary donations can be made to the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, and mailed to:

Central Terminal Restoration Corporation PO Box 468 Buffalo, NY 14212

The best thing Central Terminal has going for it are all the people who love, and want to help save this magnificent building. We appreciate all the help people have given us over the years, and we thank you.

 

Recently there have been public tours of Central Terminal, organized through the Buffalo Preservation Coalition. Check the events calendar for the most updated information. While tours are given, we want to stress that the building is still very unstable and dangerous. The tours focus on the exterior and main hall of the terminal. The general public is not allowed in the floors of the tower, or other areas of the main hall. This is for the public's safety, as pieces of the building are still actively crumbling.

8a. How do I get to Central Terminal?

Central Terminal is Located at 495 Paderewski Drive in Buffalo, NY.

From the North: 190 south to exit #4 (Fillmore/Smith Street). Right off the exit. Right onto Paderewski Drive.

From the South: 190 north to exit #4 (Fillmore/Smith Street). Left off the exit. Right onto Paderewski Drive.

From the 290: 290 to 90. 33 towards downtown Buffalo. Best Street/Science Museum exit. Left onto Best St. Right onto Fillmore. Left onto Paderewski Drive.