Richardson Olmsted Campus Grounds Walking Tour

Quick Facts:

• Approximately 1.5 hours
• Tour is of the exterior grounds: please dress appropriately for the weather
• Flat terrain of paved areas and grass.
• Approximately 1/2 mile of walking

Walk our campus with horticulturist Nell Gardner and explore the rich agricultural history and therapeutic nature of the grounds of the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane.

Supplemented with photos and landscape reports, learn about the working farm and greenhouse that once existed on site. Tours of our historic grounds will be taking place once a month from May through October.

Please note these are exterior grounds tours that last about 1.5 hours and are approximately a half mile of walking. The tour is on flat terrain of paved areas and grass. Please dress appropriately for this outdoor tour. On the day of your tour, please meet at the Lipsey Architecture Center gallery on the ground level of the towers building.

Richardson Olmsted Campus Grounds Tour Price: $20 per person

Tour Procedures & Policies:

• Reservations are required for all Richardson Olmsted Campus Grounds Tours. Walk-ups without reservations cannot be accommodated. Tours are limited to a maximum of 15 people per tour.
  • Reservations close two hours before the tour’s scheduled start time (for example, reservations close at 8am for a 10am tour).
  • All reservations for Richardson Olmsted Campus Grounds Tours are made through Explore Buffalo for the 2024 Tour Season. Reservations can be made online; please email explore@explorebuffalo.org or call (716) 245-3032 if you need assistance.
  • Explore Buffalo walking tour passes are not valid for Richardson Olmsted Campus Tours.
  • The docent for your tour will have a list of tour reservations for their tour; you do not need to print or bring any tour confirmation.
• Accessibility: This tour is on flat terrain of paved areas and grass, and is approximately a half mile in distance.
• If you feel ill or suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please do not attend any Explore Buffalo tours. We will be happy to refund your reservation or welcome you to join us at a later date.
• This is an exterior tour and tours proceed rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for the weather on the day of your tour.
• See our FAQs page for our refund policy and answers to other questions.
• By confirming your reservation for any Explore Buffalo tour, you acknowledge and accept Explore Buffalo’s tour policies.