24 Hours In Beautiful Buffalo

Hello sweet friends! Mr. Decor and I just returned from a belated 25th anniversary trip to the Niagara Falls area. We saw so many wonderful things that I need to break it down into 4 posts. The first is 24 Hours In Beautiful Buffalo.

24 Hours In Beautiful Buffalo

We flew into Buffalo on Southwest Airlines. As we were only going to stay one night in Buffalo the Mr. splurged on a boutique hotel, the Reikart House. 

I loved the light fixture at the check-in desk. 

The artwork and furnishings had a vintage vibe.

The room was lovely as well. 

There seems to be a new trend in hotels where there is a shower only, which is not my favorite. This one didn’t even have a built in bench or shaving step. But again, it was just for one night. 

 Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park

When Mr. Decor and I travel together we take turns seeing things that one of us perhaps enjoys a bit more than the other. Our first visit was to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.

The park is located on Buffalo’s waterfront at the west end of the Erie Canal. 

It is the largest inland Naval Park in the United States.

There were some truly heart stirring memorials. 

The park also features four decommissioned Naval vessels that served in a variety of military conflicts in America’s history.

The most famous is the USS The Sullivans.

The ship was the first in the U.S. Navy to be named for more than one person. 

It is in honor of the five Sullivan brothers who lost their lives when their ship was sunk by a submarine on 13 November 1942. It was the greatest military loss by any one American family during WWII. I cannot even imagine what their parents went through. 

From left to right: Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison, and George.

Afterwards we enjoyed a very late lunch at the Liberty Hound. I had the shrimp po’boy. 

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House

One of the top things to do in Buffalo is visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. 

The Darwin D. Martin House Complex was designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built between 1903 and 1905.

Mr. Martin was a business leader in the city of Buffalo. He began selling soap for the Larkin Company when he was just 14. He rose within the ranks of the company and became a self-made millionaire. 

The house is considered to be one of the most important projects from Wright’s Prairie School era.

The home is notable for its spatial openness, and horizontal planes, as well as its pier and cantilever construction.

It uses palette of natural colors and materials including the Belden Roman brick. 

The built in planters were so stunning!

From the front door you can see all the way across a long open air, covered walkway. The pergola leads to the conservatory.

At the end is a full-size replica of the classical sculpture of the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The property also includes a secondary house built for George and Delta Barton. Mrs. Barton was Mr. Martin’s sister. It was actually the first structure to be built on the property. Sort of a test run if you will. 

There is also a gardener’s cottage.

The complex is interconnected within an integrated landscape.

I have never seen such huge hydrangeas!

Historic Parkside Homes

After touring the Martin complex we couldn’t resist driving around in the historic Parkside neighborhood of Buffalo.

Other FLW Homes

We also then drove to see the other two Frank Lloyd Wright homes that are located a short distance away. Both are privately owned. 

They include the William R. Heath House.

As well as the Walter V. Davidson House.

There were some pretty spectacular homes in these neighborhoods as well. 

The home above had a matching free library which I loved!

Another late lunch was enjoyed at Old Man River’s Seafood Shack, located a smidge outside of Buffalo. 

The Mr. and I shared a lobster roll, salted potatoes and coleslaw. It was delicious!

I’ll be back on  Thursday with another photo filled post. 

Laura