Members of the Young Men’s Association (YMA) acquire numerous specimens, minerals, fossils, insects, pressed plants, and various paintings. As their collection grows, the group dedicates its interest to the natural sciences. Early members include United States Presidents Millard Filmore and Grover Cleveland.

Over 500 kids participate in the Junior Education Program, partaking in activities and classes.

Henri Marchand and his sons Paul and George, diorama pioneers, place taxidermy specimens alongside botanical and animal models to simulate a natural habitat. Their worlds are still here today, including the treasured Bison Diorama.

A collection of over 6,200 is among the top five South Pacific material culture collections in any museum. Industrialist Percy Black gathered this collection well, working for a shipping company.

In 1937, Chauncey Hamlin purchased the collection for the Society. As a result, Western New Yorkers have access to one of the largest Oceanic collections in the world.

The former brownfield, now a 264 acre preserve dedicated to environmental education, provides Western New Yorkers a place to immerse themselves in nature and offers an abundance of environmental education and outdoor experiences to foster an appreciation for nature.

The first major traveling exhibition attracts more than 250,000 visitors. Fleets of school busses bring children to see the impressive nine-foot-tall Tyrannosaurus Rex.

The Buffalo Museum of Science is the first museum in the nation to have a public elementary school both physically and programmatically linked. Today, the Drew School serves more than 1,100 students and offers specialized science education in the Museum.

The Museum launches its master exhibit plan to completely renovate eight of the facility’s core exhibit spaces into engaging “Science Studios.”

Gunther von Hagens’ international blockbuster attracts 160,000 awe-inspired visitors in just 88 days.

Seymour the Mastodon and Stanley the Albertosaurus join the family – this year, the two residents celebrate their 10th “birthdays”! 

A rare elephant bird egg, rediscovered in the Museum’s collection, is featured in Smithsonian Magazine and makes international news. 

After being closed for almost two decades, this renovation completes the literal top to bottom renovation of the Museum’s exhibit spaces. The fully restored Lundin telescope sits under a new durable, aluminized steel dome. It is powered by state-of-the-art mapping technology, once again opening the skies to a new generation of explorers. 

As our community and global world changes, BSNS recognizes that we must evolve too. The beginning of the pandemic forces the Museum to close its doors, and our staff adapts and develops virtual programming to inspire the WNY community at home. The BSNS also renews our dedication to respecting and celebrating the cultures we display, ensuring that equity and inclusion pervade all that we do, and creating a welcoming and safe environment for all to ask questions and explore.