A Closer Look: Buffalo City Hall
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Buffalo's art deco City Hall was completed in 1931. At 398 feet high from the street to the top of the tower, it is one of the tallest municipal office buildings in the U.S. It has 32 stories, 26 of which are usable office space. In 1999 Buffalo City Hall was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. Buffalo News Chief Photographer Derek Gee gives you a closer look at the many details of this magnificent building.
Art deco masterpiece
A view from above Buffalo's art deco City Hall, which was completed in 1931. At 398 feet high from the street to the top of the tower, it is one of the tallest municipal office buildings in the U.S. It has 32 stories, 26 of which are usable office space.
Catching the sun
Buffalo City Hall, located at 65 Niagara Square, is the seat for municipal government in Buffalo.
Stories of the past
The ornate frieze outside the western entrance depicts significant moments in the City's history. The total cost of building City Hall was more than $6 million, making it one of the most costly city halls in the country at that time.
September
A statue representing the month of September, one of 12 statues representing the months of the year on the exterior of Buffalo City Hall.
Frontiers unfettered by any frowning fortress
A visitor to City Hall exits below the painting in the grand lobby "Frontiers Unfettered by Any Frowning Fortress" by artist William de Leftwich-Dodge. The painting depicts Buffalo as an international gateway to Canada. The main figure in this mural is a woman holding the United States in one hand and Canada in the other, uniting the two in peace.
Mandala
The vaulted ceiling over the lobby of Buffalo City Hall is made up of mandala designs and Native American patterns.
'Talents Diversified – Find Vent in Myriad Forms'
The mural "Talents Diversified - Find Vent in Myriad Forms" by artist William de Leftwich-Dodge in the grand lobby of Buffalo City Hall.
Sunbeam snowflake
Detail of the stained glass sunburst above the Common Council Chambers on the 13th floor of Buffalo City Hall.
Watch now: Buffalo City Hall from above
Treasury
A brass eagle featured in the decorative railing in the Treasury at Buffalo City Hall.
This car up
Detail of the brass elevator door on the first floor of Buffalo City Hall.
Two little birds
A pair of birds carved into stone, a theme that repeats on the door frames of first-floor offices in Buffalo City Hall.
Construction
The mural "Construction" by artist William de Leftwich-Dodge in a first-floor wing at Buffalo City Hall.
Honoring the first Americans
Native American patterns are repeated on the intricately detailed walls in the Common Council chambers on the 13th floor.
Aud seats
In the Buffalo City Hall Executive Chambers, a portrait of Alexander Brush, Buffalo's mayor from 1870-73 and again from 1880-81, hangs above a row of seats from the former Memorial Auditorium.
Knowledge
A stone carving representing "knowledge" among the virtues necessary for a successful legislative government, in the Common Council chambers at Buffalo City Hall.
Hidden figure
A carved figure on a brass light fixture inside the Common Council chambers.
Charity
A mural depicting "Charity" by artist William de Leftwich-Dodge on a first-floor wing in Buffalo City Hall.
Epic frontiers
Detail of the mural "Frontiers Unfettered by any Frowning Fortress" by artist William de Leftwich-Dodge over the main entrance in the grand lobby of Buffalo City Hall.
Sculptural mural
Detail of the carvings at the bottom of the mural "Talents Diversified - Find Vent in Myriad Forms" by artist William de Leftwich-Dodge in the grand lobby of Buffalo City Hall.
Clan symbols
"Oskenon ton," a carving of a deer in a series of sculptures representing different Native American clans, greets visitors as they come through the western entrance to Buffalo City Hall.
Animal carvings
A pair of squirrels carved into stone, a theme that repeats on the door frames of first-floor offices in Buffalo City Hall.
Sentinel
A sentinel representing diligence, one of four figures standing guard over the lobby of Buffalo City Hall.
Columns
The columns of Buffalo City Hall are a blend of Egyptian papyrus reeds, bundled together with steel bands and set atop a modern art deco nut. The combination is symbolic of the blend between classical and modern. The shafts of the columns represent large octagon nuts with rivet stud heads applied. The molding of the lintel is styled to depict a saw, portraying the power in Buffalo's industry.
Iroquois and Joncaire
A statue depicts Joncaire trading with the Iroquois in 1758 on the western facade of Buffalo City Hall.
Eagle adornment
An eagle stands guard on the terra cotta exterior of Buffalo City Hall.
Sun headdress
The colorful "sun headdress," the octagonal top of Buffalo City Hall. The glass window visible is where visitors can take in the view from the observation deck.
February
A statue representing February, one of 12 statues depicting the months of the year, outside Buffalo City Hall.
Industrial importance
A detail of the workers representing electric power, one of the main industries of the region, within the eastern frieze of Buffalo City Hall.
October
A sculpture representing October, one of 12 figures depicting the months of the year outside Buffalo City Hall.
Terra cotta color
Eagles stand guard amid the colorful "sun headdress" atop Buffalo City Hall.
Story of a city
The eastern frieze of Buffalo City Hall depicts the industries represented within the region.
Symbols of strength
The columns of Buffalo City Hall are a blend of Egyptian papyrus reeds, bundled together with steel bands and set atop a modern art deco nut. The combination is symbolic of the blend between classical and modern. The shafts of the columns represent large octagon nuts with rivet stud heads applied. The molding of the lintel is styled to depict a saw, portraying the power in Buffalo's industry.
President, governor and mayor
Statue of President Grover Cleveland, who also served as governor of New York and mayor of Buffalo.
Standing tall
The last rays of the setting sun fall on Buffalo City Hall.
Color of night
City Hall's beaming dome anchors the Buffalo skyline at dusk.
In this Series
Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures
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