Take a Trip Back in Time
Take a Trip Back in Time
Salamanca Historical Museum Open for Winter Hours
Photos / Salamanca Historical Society
The weather outside might be “frightful” and not conducive to a lot of outdoor exploration, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit home and be bored. Just a short drive away from Ellicottville, at 125 Main Street in Salamanca, NY is the Salamanca Area Historical Society and Museum. For those of you who enjoy a good visit to the past, this is the place for you.
A little background to get you going: The museum is a non-profit organization operating out of a historic three-story former Salamanca Trust Company bank building. If architecture is your thing, the NYS Division For Historic Preservation calls it “an unusual combination of Italianate, Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance Revival with Romanesque style elements.” It’s a gorgeous setting that houses generations worth of information.
It is also a reminder of a time when Salamanca was a bustling hub of activity, boasting 4 daily newspapers, 4 railroads, furniture factories, hotels, and restaurants. As it’s the only city in the world located on an Indian Reservation, it occupies a unique seat and offers a very compelling story.
So what’s inside that’s worth checking out? Salamanca City Historian James Griffith told ellicottvilleNOW in a recent interview, “We have several unique, one-of-a-kind exhibits in our museum, including a huge 41-star American flag that is so rare experts have called it a national treasure. Discovered in the basement of a local church, the flag dates back to 1889 when Montana was granted statehood. But, three days later Washington became a state, so our flag was only valid for THREE days and some experts have told us there are less than 5 flags comparable to ours.”
They also have a display centered around a Main Street Hotel, The Krieger House, that had many prominent guests, including poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, Brigham Young, and Buffalo Bill Cody, just to name a few. The key to the display is the guest register where these luminaries signed in.
“Our most famous resident is Ray Evans, a three-time Academy Award winner who composed the classic songs Silver Bells, Que Sera Sera, Mona Lisa, and others. We have a whole wall dedicated to Ray and his lifetime of achievement,” James went on to say.
This is just a glimpse into some of the exhibits you’ll be able to visit at the museum. And bonus... visiting the museum is totally free! The City of Salamanca provides key support for the museum, and as the owner of the building, pays all utility costs and associated office expenses. The historical society owns the contents, so guests can enjoy a FREE journey into the city’s past and share an interactive experience with the whole family.
The museum is open three days a week, year-round on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00am-4:00pm. Admission is FREE for all ages. Parking is available behind the building and on Main Street. It is also handicap accessible; there is a wheelchair lift and an elevator for those with mobility issues, with access to all three floors of the building. Large group? No problem! They welcome groups and bus tours by appointment. Just reach out to them at their website (listed below) to make arrangements.
James wanted everyone to know that the museum has big plans heading into the new year. “One of our new endeavors for 2025 is conducting an oral history project called “Salamanca Memories.” We have started to conduct interviews with some of our citizens 85 and older and film their memories of growing up in Salamanca. These interviews will be available on our webpage in the near future.”
In closing, James had this to say: “Our museum represents a time when life was so much different from today. Visitors can walk through exhibits that show a simpler life and can experience firsthand why they were called “the good old days.”
For more information, questions or to book a group tour, call 716-945-2946 or visit them on the web at salamancahistoricalmuseum.org. The historical society also takes research requests for anyone looking to delve deeper into the city’s past. The Salamanca City Historian maintains an office at the Salamanca Historical Museum and is available during regular business hours or by email at salhistsoc125@hotmail.com or by phone at 716-945-2946. The museum staff is happy to provide information and answer questions but does not have access to the vital records of Salamanca such as birth, death, and marriage records. These records are available from the Vital Statistics Bureau in Albany, NY.
So if you’re looking to take a break from the snow, take the short trip out to the Salamanca Historical Society & Museum and make it a day of education and entertainment.
