Buffalo

       Surrounded by vast cornfields to one side and Lake Erie to the other, Buffalo is situated on a scenic and historically important location. A small trading post was established here around 1789, and the community quickly flourished into a typical 19th century boomtown and a “Gateway to the West” for immigrants on their way to the heartland. How the city got its unique name is a debated topic and no one knows for sure. Some say that it may reflect a mispronunciation of the French words beau fleuve, “beautiful river”, for the local Buffalo Creek. Others claim that a Seneca fisherman named Buffalo lived on the creek, prompting the early European explorers to call the stream "Buffalo's Creek." If the second theory is correct, I wonder what old Buffalo would say about his quiet fishing creek now. Dozens of boats of all shapes and sizes cruise along the mouth of the Buffalo River. Along the banks, people stroll along and have their portraits taken by a street artist or stop at various restaurants. Music emanates from restaurants and shops, adding to the upbeat and urban atmosphere. And thanks to the Great Lakes climate, flowers can be found everywhere.

Buffalo Main Light, completed in 1833