There is a lot to take in so take advantage of the helpful staff & their extra knowledge! there was a function space & a party going on during our visit, looked like a fun place to celebrate. there was a gas station INSIDE of the museum, designed by none other than read more

What a delightful and interesting museum! It's open concept and self guided which means you can just take your time checking everything out. It was impeccably clean and each item was thoughtfully curated. I loved it! read more

If you're going to tour Buffalo, The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum should be on the top of your list of sites to see. It not only has the finest most pristine collection of but a whole range of other antiques and memorabilia as well. On display are collections of antique gas pumps, bicycles, motorcycles, early radiator caps plus a whole host of other unique vehicles such as a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. At the time, the Brougham cost more than a Rolls Royce. Then, there is a Ford GT40, but don't be fooled, it's a replica. I don't know why it is here, but I have to say it's interesting and I only know because I suspiciously asked. There is also a good museum store and within the museum there is the Frank Lloyd Wright Gasoline Station. However, for me, not very much and hardly worth the bother. The museum is huge with so much to see, you best plan at least three hours. It's well deserving of a Yelp Five Stars. read more

See all

We attended an event last night at the Pierce Arrow Museum. What a cool setting! After registering and receiving info on the event, we had time to wander around the museum. The variety of cars, bicycles, and other related memorabilia was so interesting. You don't need to be a car enthusiast to enjoy this place. There also different history elements. How about the FBI and Dillinger? Like movies? They have the Steve McQueen car from Bullitt. My favorite thing was the Frank Lloyd Wright Filling Station, right there in the middle of the museum. I understand that the museum is going to be expanded. Can't wait to see what they add. Do yourself a favor and check out this place. 2023-104 read more

See all

If you happen to be in Buffalo and an automotive enthusiast, this museum should be on the top of your list of places to see. You can see anything from antique cars, motorcycles, bicycles, & even gas pump. It's a fun place to be at. You can easily spend around an hour or two here. read more

See all

If you have any interest in vintage transportation this musium is a place you have to visit. We attended a special event where they set up tables and chairs in a large open area at one end of the museum. The staff was freindly and accommodating. Only problem I encountered was they really need to do something about their sound system used for event presentations. Because of the openness, height of the ceilings and the massive glass outside wall, the sound was so echoed that most of what was said was incoherent and annoying. It's nothing that some strategically places sound baffling could fix. If you are going to see the vintage cars you will enjoy your visit. If you are looking for a venue for a presentation to a large group you really need to consider the sound issues. read more

We finally made it here and wow! What an experience! They have very limited hours but it's well worth the visit to see the history of Buffalo transportation. There was so much produced in our city I had no idea about! The cars are awesome and the displays are informative and interesting. They have different events and car shows during the year that we are absolutely going to sometime. Parking is available on site and admission is 20 for an adult and I think 10 for kids. Staff are available to answer questions and tell you anything you'd want to know. We had a fantastic time so glad we finally made it! read more

Nice musuem right near downtown. Definitely cool for those who love cars, both classic and and old timey. Definitely worth the price of admission ($12). read more

See all

I have been to Buffalo numerous times this year, and I have been wanting to visit this museum, but the days I was in town didn't match up with the days they were open. This last time I visited the city they were open, and wow, I was in for a treat! I'm not even really a car guy, but holy moly, this museum turned me into one! The space is huge, and the various cars (not to mention the bicycles) on display are gorgeous. The love and passion that went into creating this museum is obvious. This place is more than just a museum about cars in general or the Pierce-Arrow company specifically. It is a beautiful love letter to the city of Buffalo. It does a fantastic job of documenting the history of the city and taking us back in time. It is a gem that any city would be proud of. I have been a big fan of Buffalo for a long time, and this museum makes me love this city even more! read more

After countless thought about actually visiting this museum, struggling to find a particular time in which our schedules would work, and staring forlornly at the exterior every time I drove by...I FINALLY set out to come to the Pierce-Arrow for a visit. This museum has way more to offer than you'd expect. That's definitely the #1 take-away from this place. There's definitely a bit of a stereotype about this place, considering that Pierce-Arrow is still typically thought of as a motor car company - but coming here, you'll discover that there is SO much more. Did you know that the Pierce company originally specialized in household items, and was popular for their bird cages? Eventually they graduated to bicycles, built motorettes, and soon came to construct cars. I think they definitely thrive on being more of a 'Transportation Museum' though, as they also include a plethora of super cool artifacts that have to do with all means of transportation - there's a horse-drawn Jello wagon, antique gas pumps, bicycles, and more! You'll really be surprised at what you find here. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this museum. I really didn't expect to be so impressed - I really appreciate the look of classic cars, but I wouldn't call myself a fanatic. But coming here reassured that it isn't just all about the cars. I adored the bikes, LOVED the vintage clothing, and couldn't get enough of FLW's Filling Station. There is most certainly something here for everyone, and something for people of all ages to enjoy. Admission is inexpensive - $10 per adult, $5 for kids 13 and under. They're usually only open on the weekends, check their website for seasonal hours! read more

See all

OMG!!! What a cool display of vintage bicycles, toys, autos, motor bikes, and clothing , jewelry and paraphernalia to go with all the transportation brand names and events. Much more included with Buffalo family histories, tons of great photos. Great event space available. Vintage car books and magazines for sale. Plus vintage collectibles for sale and vintage sheet music too. Lots to look at. Excellent display of Thomas Flyer Race Car, with short film story to see. Rest rooms available, areas to sit, also. Walk at your own pace. All on one floor. If you love Buffalo, you must see this collection! read more

This is a great museum highlighting all avenues of transportation including bicycles and Pierce Arrow automobiles. The Frank Lloyd Wright Filling Station is wonderful. I feel like there are two museums in one; one side is filled with artifacts, bicycles, and some cars in a smaller space, the other is a large warehouse that houses the filling station, motorcycles, and many more cars. Years ago I was here and you couldn't get into the filling station portion, unless you went on the tour. Now, all of it is open to see at your own leisure. The staff and volunteers are really nice and offer amusing facts. Check this gem out. read more

See all

So much more than cars... this museum covers a little bit of everything and has the potential to expand into something even greater. The museum is clean and well organized too. Like fashion? The museum has display cases of vintage clothing, hats, etc. Like architecture? Check out the full size replica of a Frank Lloyd Wright filling station, made out of copper, concrete, and glass! Like bikes? They got a bunch of those and motorcycles too! Local history fan? Check out the Tyco exhibit and see cars that were made in Buffalo up close. Interested in obscure collections? From gas pumps to hood details to hats, come see it! And how can I not praise the great job they do highlighting women? read more

See all

This is a must-see, in my opinion, for anyone interested in Buffalo's history in general, not just transportation history. I was privileged to go on a tour this past weekend, with the founder, and the connections he talked about were simply exciting! Not only will you see cool old cars, especially Pierce-Arrows, but also clothing, esp for women, from that era. The Frank Lloyd Wright designed filling station is amazing, too. be sure to get up as close as you can to peek through the windows...this was no ordinary gas station. At the risk of showing my age, perhaps you remember from your childhood gas station set-ups that were toys? They have some of those, too, as well as other interesting artifacts. You could probably spend the better part of a day here, if you wanted to. Much more is planned for this museum; the owners (our tour guide and his wife) own many many more cars, carriages, etc that will eventually be on exhibit in even more buildings. read more

Amazing collection of......everything! A different but outstanding venue for events. I love the section on women and their cars. read more

See all

I was surprised at the collection of transportation equipment that is housed in the museum. There's lots of bicycles and even a boats in addition to the collection cars, which includes much more than just Pierce Arrows. Truly one of Buffalos best kept secrets. I took my out of town relatives and they really enjoyed it. The one thing that seems odd to me, is that you enter through a small side door rather than through the impressive looking main entrance. It really takes away from the experience. read more

The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum - 1932 Duesenberg Town Car - Museums Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

way too expensive $20 each for very little to see And do. Very clean bathroom and convenient parking.

Buffalo has a rich automotive history: home of the Pierce-Arrow, the 1948 Playboy, and the Thomas Flyer. This fledgling museum, with rather limited visitor hours currently has only about 40 cars on display -- not all of them Pierce-Arrows. It's an eclectic mix here. There is a lot of memorabilia in the display cases, too, but car buffs will surely expect more vehicles to make a visit worth their time. Fortunately, that will happen next year. An addition featuring construction of a unique 1927 Frank Lloyd Wright design for a filling station will be ready for the public. Many more cars will be on display (from the twelve buildings of cars in storage). I was told cars will be regularly rotated so visits won't be a static experience. Hopefully, the presentation will be more polished, too. It's difficult to really see some of these cars because stanchions and kitsch surround them. [Note to museum: lose the tacky Muzak playing in the background. Kenny G doesn't enhance any life experience.] Car museums are tough enterprises to start and keep going in a truly professional setting -- a car on display may cost $20,000 to $30,000 per year in maintenance to keep it in proper working condition -- but I was told that this place is on sound footing. Indeed, there is room here to expand yet again in the future. It's fun to watch a museum grow and I will be glad to return. read more

See all

This is a complete display of all aspects of this industry for motor fanatics and families alike. Kid friendly from honking the horn at the registration table to the historical timeline of the auto. and yes the Franklin Lloyd Wright gas station is not to be missed. Let the volunteer docent explain to you how that worked in its heyday. Money well spent, free parking and so many eatery's within walking distance. read more

See all

A new piece of Buffalo history here. Come see the playboy pinball machine from decades ago (the old fashoined klind where you actually have to launch the ball into the game yourself, not by pushing a button. Or the 1941 Crosley. Or the 1938 Bugati. Or just visit the store for some history replicas for purchase. It's the grand reopening of this museum. Some history - The Pierce Arrow was a bike first. Really. It was. The George N Pierce company actually started as a maker of birdcages and ice chests among other things, sometime in the late 1800's. Then he started to make bicycles. And the demand was there. So he made more. An innovator and inventor both, he improved the bicycle. In 1901 they created the first Pierce Arrow car. Then they moved to the still standing and occupied Pierce Arrow building on Elmwood. They made a luxury car, designed and marketed to the wealthy. They were the presidents cars from the Taft to Hoover white houses. Most every famous person in the US drove a Peirce Arrow at some point. Not only were they a status symbol, they were a symbol of continuous innovation and improvement. In addition to the American roadway cars, Pierce Arrow made trucks that were used in World War I, only improving their brand name even more. Then came the depression, which was the downfall of many car makers, and Peirce Arrow was sold to Studebaker, who quickly sold it to the Buffalo management team when they went bankrupt in the early 1930's. But it could not be salvaged and went under in the late 1930's. Mr Jim Sandoro and his family started the museum in the late 1990's. Recently it underwent a major renovation and is much larger. It can be used as a meeting and party/event space now, and having been there for a party I can confirm its terrific. Very large and open, easily houses over 1000 people, it also has a nice room with the museum and the museum store. This is a non profit, and does charge admission, currently $10 for adult, $8 for seniors, $5 for children, those under 6 free. They do have a parking lot and parking should be no issue if you are there for the museum. If you are there for an event there are a lot of other lots within yards of the museum and parking wont be an issue either. Open from 11-4 Thur-Sun, so a perfect weekend activity. They can do private tours for groups. The museum houses not only Peirce Arrow info, but information about the history of the transportation industry in Buffalo all around. Mr Sandoro has collected memorabilia for decades, and much is on show here now. In addition, they have received gifts of older model cars and other memorabilia from other Buffalonians. It's a remarkable and very fun collection to see. Also in the museum, and part of the recent renovation I think, is the Frank Loyd Wright designed (but never built) filling station that was supposed to go on this corner, back in the late 1920's. They "built" it now, inside the museum, although of course its a replica and not intended for real everyday use. Come visit this place, it not an all day activity, rather a few hours of fun interesting history about the Pierce Arrow, Buffalo, and innovators all around. Even if you have come in the past, this is a new and improved version of what was there and worth a revisit. Enjoy. 5 stars - its a nice museum and worth your time and effort to come visit. read more

Free for Fathers (on fathers day)!! Perfect Father's Day celebration. Every time my dad has passed this museum for the last five years he has stated he wanted to check it out. So today we took him here and spent the day looking at all the collections. The crowd wasn't bad at all, mainly because it's such a large space that you never feel it's crowded, also for the price of $10 adult entrance fee it truly was a fair and reasonable price. We spent a little less than two hours there checking out the first floor of automobiles, bicycles and history! I absolutely loved the workers walking around and adding commentary as you go, their passion truly showed! read more

See all

A quirky museum in a dodgy neighborhood just east of downtown (OK a transitioning neighborhood). The big draw is the Frank Lloyd Wright designed gas station that they built from his plans right inside the museum - it is pretty cool. An interesting story in itself and we were lucky to catch a brief talk about the gas station. We happened to get there at 2pm on a Saturday when a guided "tour" of the station began - not sure if we could have even seen it if we arrived later. There was nothing on-line that indicated there was a tour or that that section of the museum would be closed otherwise. This was a good example of what this place is lacking... organization. This "museum" feels like what it appears to be - some guys collection of cars, car memorabilia, and other oddities. There is no narrative that even explains anything about Pierce-Arrow or the other car companies of Buffalo. Nothing tells a cohesive story or ties the pieces of this collection together. They need a curator, someone who has museum experience to pull this together and elevate this place to the next level. It has the potential but right now it is just a rich guy's collection of car stuff... read more

The place was not hospitable at all. I paid for my ticket and asked if my brother could use the restroom and they rejected him because he "wasn't a paying customer" even though I payed $15 for my ticket in. The museum itself was old school and had a bad smell to it. Had absolutely terrible managers and ownership. 0/10 would not recommend to visit unless you enjoy rude people. read more

I hate to call it a "Transportation Museum," because there is no railway display. You're immediately taken back to the beginning of the 19th century, to the late 1800s start of the Pierce company through the 1930s. The museum has been around, and they're still trying to find that comfortable spot with their displays. They apparently have tons of memorabilia that can be displayed or rotated I and out so return visits wouldn't be boring. I give this place five stars because of the knowledgeable and friendly docents. My only gripe being that some of the display information was hard to read or the easels upon which they sat were basically on the ground. read more

The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum - 1967 Mercury Cougar, Bugatti, 1919 P-A Bus - Museums Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Lots of history to be learned here. One side is self touring and the other guided side holds the Frank Lloyd Wright gas station and his very own vehicle that they have on loan right now, along with the Wrigley family car (chewing gum fame) and several others. From antique to the 80's, they have it all here for you to see. read more

The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum - now, THATS a car - Museums Near Me - Buffalo, New York

What a local gem! I am not a car enthusiast but this museum is filled with one of a kind and rare bikes, motorcycles and cars that leave you breathless due to their beauty. I thought of it more as a history museum. Lots of interesting displays about women's roles in the early days of motoring including a series of books called The Motoring Maids which I'm sure would be interesting to read. The Frank Lloyd Wright Filling Station is spectacular! read more

See all

Amazing theatre . Lots of variety stuff . Relatively small but very appropriate for car lovers . Allow 2 hours

A must see for car buffs (has Motorweek done a profile yet?), this museum has a nice collection of mostly pre-WW2 cars, many with connections to Buffalo. There are Pierce-Arrows, Fords, Auburns - all automotive art on wheels and fascinating to see in person. There's even a rare sports car called The Playboy which inspired Hef to name his magazine. A classic Vette, a classic Thunderbird provide interesting scale as the cars became lower profile and more aerodynamic. The museum also has gazillion hood ornaments - art pieces in themselves, clothes people wore when out for a drive, and lots of other great automotive memorabilia of the past 100 years. The star attraction is the Frank Lloyd Wright gas station - again, amazing how ahead of his time Wright was - a beautiful sculpture of a building that sits in its own part of the museum. Plenty of parking, admission was reasonable, the collection was unforgettable! Ah, I found the Motorweek segment! http://www.motorweek.org/features/fyi/pierce_arrow_transportation_museum Definitely worth seeing! read more

This place is a must for car enthusiasts. The museum has a lot of really special cars. Really old cars, some from just about every decade. I think the newest one in the collection is a Corvette C3 racecar (there are some really sweet C2's as well). The Frank Lloyd Wright designed gas station is pretty amazing too. read more

This place is cool! I was in Buffalo for business and our group had a tour and catered dinner at the museum. I was pleasantly surprised! When you first walk in it can be a bit underwhelming. Keep walking! The museum's collection is amazing. I saw bikes that I never knew existed in the collection. History at every turn to include trinkets, books, signs, etc. The cars-beautiful! Corvettes that make you drool. As you move through the tour it gets better and better. They start opening doors and the awww takes over! I was impressed. I'm not even going to share the best part...you will have to stop and see for yourself. I would never do it any justice. The owner was very passionate and knew his stuff. He sucks you in and you find yourself clinging to every word. I feel like a transportation, and even a bit of a architectural, history buff now. I definitely recommend a visit to the museum. It's not someplace that pops out and is even a little tucked away but it's worth stopping for. read more

The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum - Museums Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

A quaint and growing museum focusing on motor vehicle transportation involving Ford, Pierce, and more with also a replica of Frank Lloyd Wright's gas station. Gas station was never built because Wright was looking for $1700 per each gas station, which was a lot of money at the time (most could be built with $700) and it had two fireplaces in it, which was kind of dangerous considering the gasoline tank was on the top of the building. Plenty of history and frequent tours and knowledgeable staff. Well worth a visit. read more

See all

I wasn't expecting such a wide array of exhibits and information. I'm not an automotive aficionado but this place really caught my attention and held it. You can spend a really enjoyable afternoon or morning here if you are interested in history or architecture, now that the Frank Lloyd Wright filling station is on display (since June of 2014). This is a must-see for fans of the architect, who has two other buildings in Buffalo and one just South of it. The guided tour of the exterior of the filling station was topnotch (done by "Employee #2," as he humbly referred to himself). I would like to be able to enter the station and also to see its beautiful copper roof from above on the balcony level, but those areas were off-limits, which is the reason for four stars instead of five. The museum is fun for families, since there is memorabilia encompassing toys, decorative arts, clothing, and all kinds of vehicles. Nice themed apparel on sale in the gift shop. They should add some interactive exhibits, like a vehicle you can sit in or pretend to drive or the like. It's the 21st century, so why not a video-game that lets you drive a 19th century stage coach or an early 20th century auto? read more

Disclaimer: When we visited, the new addition was not yet complete. THAT may very well change my rating. I'd been looking forward to seeing this museum for some time. We went past it last year, but they had already closed for the day (they close at 3 p.m. most days, it seems), so we made a point of going here first thing in the morning. I'm a fan of classic cars, and have been to several car museums. Considering that Pierce-Arrow was THE top maker of luxury cars in the 1920's (the first 2 or 3 presidential limousines were Pierce-Arrows), and they were noted especially for their excellent print advertising campaigns. Pierce-Arrow was one of the world's greatest auto manufacturers of the period 1910-1930, and they were made in Buffalo. Unfortunately, you don't get much for your $10 admission. Yes, they have 5 or 6 Pierce-Arrows of different models and different years, but no exhibits of the engines inside, and very few examples of the famous advertising art that the company was noted for. They also have an example of a Thomas Flyer (another famous Buffalo auto of the period circa 1908, which became famous for winning the world's first circum-global navigation race), and a few decent examples of other cars (including a type 57 Bugatti), as well as an example of a Playboy mini-car, an automotive flop of the post-war period. Still, for $10, I was disappointed. Last year, I saw a museum in Norwich, NY, where for the same price, they had easily 5 times the cars, as well as a very comprehensive range of displays of Franklin Autos (the local manufacturer once based in Syracuse). Until they open the new wing, save your money. read more

This place is an interesting museum. Lots to learn and fun facts. However the lady that greets everyone and hands out tickets might be one if the most rude people I've come in contact with! read more

I had the pleasure of a visit on a snowy March day, 3/9/18. The displays are wonderful, the history is wonderful, but better than any of that was the staff. Granted it was not busy but I could tell that the staff working here loves this stuff. Their passion for telling a story about Buffalo was amazing. I left feeling that I must return to enjoy this experience again. The cars are amazing, the Frank Lloyd wright filling station was out of this world, but the staff shone brighter! Ps. I wish I could have walked through the filling station, read more

Amazing hidden gem, at $10 a real bargain for a couple hours. Self guided but knowledgeable and friendly staff on site. Collection includes cars, motorcycles, and bicycles many with WNY connections. If your in town for hockey or minor league baseball put this spot on your list. read more

Surprising number of cars. Not all pierce arrows. We went for the Frank Lloyd Wright gas station, which was great, and there was so much more there. Lots of interesting historical connections to Buffalo and transportation. We got a great tour also. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Greeted by a nice gentleman at the counter. Paid $25 for the three of us. After dragging my husband to all the malls and shopping, I'd figured that we could do something that he enjoyed. The gentleman knew alot about cars, but there really wasn't that many cars to see. Spent about an hour there, my husband left happy. Now we could go back to shopping. read more

This is a really cool place. To be honest, I was really interested in the Frank Lloyd Wright filing station (although the space is open, it's not quite done yet, and the waiting area furniture doesn't seem exactly fitting). I didn't really have high expectations, and it was lots of fun to look at a wide range of cars and car-related items on display. Some cars had stuff pumpkin on them (?) and there were lots of mannequins, which I think added to a relaxed atmosphere. It would be a GREAT place to have events! There's a dedicated bar built in the main area. read more

If you love cars and Buffalo history, this is the place to be. This museum is just a fraction of items on display that the owners have. They have warehouses full of stuff that are waiting to be displayed...hoping Pierce Arrow expands to suit it all. The show stopper is the Frank Lloyd Wright gas station rebuilt according to original specs. Just beautiful. This place is a hidden gem in our city. We visited on Father's day and both my husband and his father loved it, as did the rest of us. read more