Private Tours

NOTICE: 2021 TOURS ARE NOW OPEN! RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! 

Private Two-Hour Tours

Reservations for private tours may be made via telephone at 716-601-1153 or email by contacting us at tours@richardson-olmsted.com.  A minimum of one week to arrange a tour is required. Prefer a minimum of 4 guests; maximum of 12 guests. 

To keep our guests, volunteers, and staff safe while on site, The Richardson Olmsted Campus requires all individuals, even if vaccinated, to wear face coverings on our tours. We are unable to allow entry to anyone unwilling or unable to meet these requirements.

In-Depth Tour:  $40.00 per person, 1-12 people of the same household or party, ages 16+

Take a deep dive into the rich past of the Richardson Olmsted Campus on this two-hour guided tour of unoccupied buildings. Led by an expert docent, visitors will gain access to spaces vacant since the 1970s.  During the tour, visitors will experience some of the site’s original structures as well as the healing landscape designed to serve as a therapeutic environment for patients.

• The tour is for up to 12 people of the same household or party, ages 16 and up.
• Flat, sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required.
• A mask or appropriate face covering must be worn on-site throughout the tour. 
• For your safety, we reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who is unable or unwilling to comply with these safety requirements.
• This tour requires the ability to walk for the full duration of the tour as well as to climb several flights of stairs.
• Tours are conducted rain or shine.

Patient Life Tour:  $40.00 per person, 1-12 people of the same household or party, ages 16+

What was it like to live at the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane?  Go behind-the-scenes and back in time to learn about what life was like when the Richardson Olmsted Campus was home to thousands of people, including patients, doctors, nurses, attendants and staff.

• The tour is for ages 16 and up.
• Flat, sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required.
• A mask or appropriate face covering must be worn on-site throughout the tour. 
• For your safety, we reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who is unable or unwilling to comply with these safety requirements.
• This tour requires the ability to walk for the full duration of the tour as well as to climb several flights of stairs.
• Tours are conducted rain or shine.

Photography Tour:  $60.00 per person, 2-10 people of the same household or party, ages 16 +

Join us for an exclusive opportunity to capture the interior spaces of the iconic Richardson Olmsted Campus, a National Historic Landmark.  The 148-year-old former state hospital facility consists of purpose-built structures and a healing landscape that created a therapeutic environment then considered the most progressive treatment available for mental illness.

Photographers will be paired with an experienced docent to guide them through a collection of spaces in various states of disrepair and stabilization. Your guide can also provide context on the history and future of the Richardson Olmsted Campus as you explore the site.

• The tour is for ages 16 and up.
• Flat, sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required.
• A mask or appropriate face covering must be worn on-site throughout the tour. 
• For your safety, we reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who is unable or unwilling to comply with these safety requirements.
• This tour requires the ability to walk for the full duration of the tour as well as to climb several flights of stairs.
• Tours are conducted rain or shine.