In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to serve in Congress, representing New York’s 12th District. Four years later, she became the first woman and first Black candidate to seek a major party’s presidential nomination. Following her career in politics, Shirley moved to Buffalo with her husband, State Legislator Arthur Hardwick. She's buried in the city's historic Forest Lawn Cemetery where a new statue in her honor is soon to be unveiled.
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30:19
Jenny Lind and the Canal District Fire
In September 1850, Swedish opera star Jenny Lind began an 18-month tour of American cities promoted by P.T. Barnum. The tour brought her to Buffalo four times in 1851, but one of the performances was special. It was a fundraiser, bringing relief to victims of a fire in the city’s Canal District. This is the story of Lind’s American tour, her visits to Buffalo, and the 1851 Canal District fire.
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**The Echo Song, as heard in the podcast is performed by Swedish soprano Elisabeth Söderström. As stated in the episode, there are no known surviving recordings of Jenny Lind.
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22:54
The Silent Bells of Buffalo
In the 1860s, Buffalo Bishop John Timon commissioned a 43-bell carillon for the city's St. Joseph's Cathedral. The bells, however, would run into a series of problems which prevented them from being heard for more than a half century--and then for nearly another century after that. This is the story of the bells, their unlucky journey, and their eventual installation at Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery.
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24:23
Wedding of the Waters: The Opening of the Erie Canal
October 26, 1825 marked the ceremonial opening of the Erie Canal, a waterway that would shape the future of the nation. To celebrate, Governor DeWitt Clinton led a cross-state procession, stopping in each town along the man-made waterway.
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19:36
Suicide of a Goddess
On July 1, 1902, the Pan-American Exposition's Goddess of Light statue was torn to the ground. The statue, which adorned the fair's tallest structure, had become a symbol of the Exposition. Now, it had been sold off. However, it would never make it to its new owner.
The Buffalo History Museum Podcast is the premier source for Western New York history. Each episode, we tell a story of the people and events that have shaped our region. New episodes are released monthly. Help us grow by subscribing, rating, and reviewing us.
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