Niagara Aerospace Museum
How cool is it that the Niagara Aerospace Museum is planning on moving to Buffalo? As reported in The Buffalo News (see article), the museum is currently weighing sight options that include locations "near the Buffalo Transportation Museum in the area of Michigan Avenue and Seneca Street or at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park at the foot of Main Street". A fascinating aspect of the move is the $600,00 donation from Dr. Elizabeth Olmsted Ross, who stipulated that the money would go hand in hand with the museum's move to Buffalo. That and settlement moneys from the Seneca Gaming Corporation will allow the move to commence once a site is chosen.
This is pretty cool news for a whole lot of reasons. It's a great fit with the rest of the museums that have made their way downtown in recent years. The Niagara Aerospace Museum will find good company alongside the Pierce-Arrow Museum, the Erie Canal Harbor Naval and Military Museum... and remember when BRO posted on Jim Sandoro's idea to create an entire Transportation District. At that point a few BRO viewers brought up a potential move of the Niagara Aerospace Museum, calling it a great piece of Jim's district plans. Buffalo will one day be home of the Rocketbelt Convention... remember the rocket belt? It's the Jetsonian belt, developed by Bell Aerospace Company of Buffalo, New York, that a traveler straps to his or her back thus allowing the person to fly through the air. There was a lot of conspiracy theory surrounding that belt - the machine began to make special appearances at football games and even showed up at the 1984 Olympic Games. The crowds at the games were completely mystified and baffled as to how the technology allowed the operator to fly... that's just one of the cool gadgets that comes along with the new museum. University at Buffalo is also known to have an original Rocketbelt in its possession. (see history of Rocketbelt)
Lest we forget about the Buffalo Bike Museum... a Transportation District would not be complete without such an incredible array of bikes and exhibits. Of course another part of the district would include Jim's proposal of turning the Upstate Milk operation into a Train Museum. All of these draws can, and hopefully will, play off each other. This is exciting news for Buffalo.
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jstraubinger
Yesterday's article in the BNews left me with a question or two.The article stated that the current museum has a 3D movie theater and a workshop for the restoration of planes. Are these components of the current museum going to be in the Buffalo Museum as well? A 3D or even better still, an omni max theater can be quite a draw by itself and allowing the public to see a restoration in progress would also be another powerful draw. This museum and the auto museum could synergize each other. I also have been told that the Frank Lloyd Wright gas station will finally be constructed this year. Let's see the CVB spread some magic over this.
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chris69
I think this (Aerospace Museum) would be an incredible pairing with the Air and Naval Museum, especially since the Lower Lakes Museum is a short distance away it would really create a synergy.
the other choice is to locate it with the transportation museum over on Michigan or at the Pierce Arrow but whichever location these museums along with the possibility of a railroad museum at the Central Terminal and the bicycle museum should really think about creating a second sort museum cluster. The problem with such an idea on the eastside is simply the distance between the Science Museum, the Central Terminal and the Michigan Street Transportation Museum.
but such clusters do re-inforce to me atleast that the zoo should be relocated from Delaware Park to South Buffalo where they could complement the botanical gardens....and perhaps even create a Great Lakes Museum for Flora and Fauna exhibits....and well as a new trend with other zoos and museums is stuffed animals that are rare, to expensive or require to much space.
South Buffalo if it had the zoo and the botanical gardens could then possibly work out something with Fisher Price for a Childrens Museum...and that would leverage South Buffalo as one of most family friendly sections of Buffalo.
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BackInBuffalo
Let's reflect on why the museum is moving - that a CASINO forced it out (quite literally). I believe that they're quoted as saying, "a what now? a museum? that seems too, what's the word, cultural? we're a casino, nothing shall interupt our money-printing macines!"
--oh, and let's not forget that the Bell Labs jet-pack was Q's device for 007 in Goldfinger...
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RisingDamp666
Beware of 'aerospace museums'. They may start small, but can easily grow much larger and much more expensive. There's competition out there and getting into that game requires $30 million minimum. BuffaloNiagara has a good aerospace story to tell...but we all know how it ends.
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OutsidetheBox
The zoo is NOT moving. PERIOD. They're in the beginning part of a major overhaul of the entire place and the plans for it look great! Over the next 10 years they'll be spending a lot of money on exhibit and grounds improvements.
As for the air museum, I think it's great that they're moving to Buffalo. They got shafted up in Niagara Falls and it'd be nice to see a permanent home for them downtown near complimentary museums. There's nothing wrong with a museum growing as long as they stay within a budget. And I'd love to know where that $30 million dollar figure came from??
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ChocolateShake
Is it, per Queenseyes, really cool that downtown Niagara Falls lost one of the few family friendly attractions? Why is there never any concern with the Niagara part of the Buffalo-Niagara region? A museum makes more sense in the Falls as that city is an actual tourist destination.
Just wait until Erie or Buffalo needs help from those north of the Erie County line... how accommodating will those in Niagara County be towards us? Silly power grabs keep this region in perpetual division... city vs. suburbs, north towns vs. south towns, etc., etc.
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sbrof
Just talk to Shaun Ford about how he cares about Buffalo as he traveled down here from NT to try and rob a west side pizzeria last night..
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sbrof
Either way.. Niagara Falls will always be a grant tourist attraction with the falls and the story about electrical power behind them. Moving this museum to Buffalo to create some synergism with other small museums only helps everyone win (aka stay open). People travel to the falls to see the falls, with our reputation about the arts and culture it makes sense for them to relax in natural beauty there and come here for some man made beauty.
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carl
frankly, i think that niagara falls needs all the attractions it can get...have you been there reciently? lets face it, niagara falls usa is truly a dead city. i would rather the NIAGARA Aerospace Museum stay in, i dont know, niagara falls!
this place is cool though, (recently featured on the pbs series wired science) it has a great collection of truly unique objects.
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jstraubinger
Niagara Falls, NY VS Niagara Falls, ONT is exhibit A in what's wrong with upstate New York. I can sympathize with those who are angry or upset about this museum moving to Buffalo but the Falls and the Niagara Region have been screwed more than any other location in Upstate new York in terms of economic development. Look at all the development in Niagara Falls, ONT. Look at the construction cranes over there. How the hell did all this happen while the New York side was laying in ruin.
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BOYBILLY
Bond used the jet pack in "Thunderball"
Do they actually have a jet pack at this museum?
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viking
I think Scott Wood designed this project when working for Hadley Exhibits, I hope the move is handled by them since it originated here.
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al-alo
moving all that stuff will probably cost a pretty penny. depending on how much packing, storing and transporting they do in house, i could easily see the move costing in the 150k range. new exhibists and new facilities like curratorial storage are pretty pricey too.
it would not suprise me at all if the move and new facility ate up all of the donation and settlement monies.
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rb66
Whatever happened to the "Comedy Hall of Fame"?
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RobK
This would be a great addition to go alongside the Naval and Military Park, IMO.
It's too bad for Niagara Falls, maybe we should give them our casino in return.
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estreet
The Aerospace museum is going to be loactaed at HSBC arena next to the Sabres Store. Around 3 pm today there will be a flyover
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PaulBuffalo
I would recommend the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, located near near Hamilton's airport, as a model for the aerospace museum. Their open restoration area is especially interesting. It's a great place and Buffalo would do well to emulate components of this Canadian treasure.
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