Erie County, in collaboration with numerous partners, is preparing to celebrate its bicentennial with a year of programs, self-guided and group tours, musical performances, museum exhibits and much more. Over two hundred partners and volunteers from across the county are taking part in the bicentennial observation, EC200, which will kick off on April 2 (the 200^th anniversary of Erie County’s recognition as a county) and will continue for a full year, through April 2022.

“This bicentennial celebration will spotlight Erie County’s history, from its incorporation to today, and will also commemorate the hardworking men and women who built what we know today. A year of education, fun, and history is in store and set to begin on April 2,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz.  “I want to thank the many, many partners and community volunteers who are joining in this effort and supporting EC200 by presenting programs or volunteering to help in some way. Throughout Erie County’s history, our people have always been our greatest asset and we are seeing that again with EC200.”

Planning for EC200 began almost two years ago with an organizational effort that included the County Executive’s office along with Executive Director of the Buffalo History Museum Melissa Brown, Erie County Historian Douglas Kohler, and a few dozen local historical, cultural, and community stakeholders. The group has since grown to include hundreds of volunteers working on programming, marketing, inclusion and outreach for the year-long bicentennial celebration. Committee work is focused on Education, Programming, Marketing, Media/Social Media, and Diversity and Inclusion.

Erie County Historian Douglas Kohler said, “The county's bicentennial commemoration provides us an exciting opportunity to illuminate the little-known stories of our past.  Throughout the coming year, we will strive to honor the men and women, who through their contributions and sacrifices, helped to build our community. We will endeavor to commemorate the many moments, like the War of 1812 and the Pan-American Exposition, when the eyes of the world were upon us, and we will celebrate the presidents, the inventors, the businessmen and women and the millions of immigrants who helped to forge our community and county.”

A sampling of the organizations joining the Erie County Departments of Environment & Planning and Parks, Recreation and Forestry in presenting EC200 includes Visit Buffalo Niagara, the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Hispanic Heritage, the Buffalo History Museum, Explore and More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum,  Flying Bison Brewing Company, the Baird Foundation, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, EPIC, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the WNY Pride Center as well as many local historical sites.

“The 37 Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries are excited to participate in Erie County’s Bicentennial celebration over the next year.  As a key cultural, educational, civic and neighborhood institution, libraries have provided services and resources to local residents since its origins in 1836.  And now, during this monumental Bicentennial year, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries will be offering a variety of interesting, all ages opportunities; including a historical map exhibit at the downtown Central Library, for everyone to learn more about Erie County’s first two hundred years,” said Library System Director Mary Jean Jakubowski, adding “we are excited for the next 200 years and look forward to continuing library services in our great communities.”

Due to COVID-19, programming is being planned with an understanding of the current restrictions and in alignment with guidelines established by New York Forward and ECDOH.

Programming and events will be held throughout the year with EC200 partners planning special presentations or series as part of the event. New programming will continue to be developed and unveiled throughout the year.

Expected programming currently includes:

• an EC200 Passport with over thirty historical sites to visit around Erie County;
• a special bicentennial concert to be recorded by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for later air;
• WNED-TV will bring back the “Our Town” series along with other videos of local historical significance to be aired locally for the first time in many years, or ever;
• various speaker series and reading events will be held, virtually and in-person when safe; this will include the Erie County Department of Senior Services’ University Express program;
• virtual historical story maps will be created by the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning and students at Buffalo State College;
• an Erie County bicentennial exhibit will be opening at the Buffalo History Museum;
• Flying Bison Brewery will release “Erie County Parks and Rec” pilsner, a celebratory brew, with other breweries expected to release their own bicentennial editions;
• a Community Calendar of events and bicentennial information will be hosted by Visit Buffalo Niagara;
• events highlighting the many ways that local groups celebrate their traditions and holidays;
• self-guided tours and group tours of historical sites across Erie County;
• a curriculum is being developed for Erie County students on local history; and
• free or discounted admission to local historical sites, museums and cultural attractions where noted.    

Patrick Kaler, President & CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said, “Visit Buffalo Niagara’s mission – and the County funding that sustains it – gives us the great responsibility and privilege to share our region’s story with the world,” said Patrick Kaler, Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO. “The legacy of Erie County’s first and second centuries is at the heart of Visit Buffalo Niagara’s marketing efforts and forms the foundation of our region’s appeal, even as we look forward to many exciting developments and opportunities as Erie County embarks on its third century.”

“It is a privilege to celebrate Erie County's Bicentennial, this is such a wonderful milestone for our community.  Congratulations to the leadership both current and past who preserved our legacy, grew our community and made Erie County a place that we are proud to call home,” said Michelle Urbanczyk, CEO of Explore & More-The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum.

Tim Herzog, founder of Flying Bison Brewing, said, “The beer folks at Flying Bison are honored to be asked to take part in EC200 celebrations. We think EC200 Parks and Recreation Pilsner will be a great beer to celebrate our past, present and future with."

Casimir Rodriguez, Sr., Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, added, ““Erie County has been a beacon of hope to people from around the globe for 200 years. Our unique, diverse stories are woven into the tapestry of our community and our lives. This celebration honors the spirit and dedication of people committed to diversity and inclusion in a celebration that unites and bonds us all.”

“200 years of progress and struggles in Erie County embodies "E Pluribus - Unum" as inscribed on the Great Seal of the United States. By banding together, the journey continues for its residents of incredibly diverse backgrounds,” said Khalid J. Qazi, founding President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of WNY.

For more information:

On EC200 visit:      https://www3.erie.gov/ec200/ 

Background:

On April 2, 1821 New York State officially recognized Erie County. After the American Revolution, the Holland Land Company purchased 3.2 million acres of land from the Seneca nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). In 1808, New York organized the western-most land as Niagara County. By 1821, the population had increased so much that Niagara County was split. Erie County, the land south of Tonawanda Creek, consisted of ten towns and the Buffalo Creek Reservation. Today, Erie County has twenty-five towns, three cities, two tribal territories and a population of approximately 920,000.

Erie County has ties to several U.S. Presidents. Millard Fillmore practiced law in East Aurora before serving as President. He returned to Erie County and helped establish the University of Buffalo, Buffalo General Hospital and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. Grover Cleveland practiced law in Buffalo before becoming Erie County Sheriff, Buffalo Mayor and Governor of New York. He married Buffalo’s Frances Folsom. In 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo and, on September 14 of that year, Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in at the Wilcox Mansion as the nation’s twenty-sixth President.

Once heavily-forested frontier, the region changed as the Erie Canal brought prosperity and made the Niagara Frontier one of the largest shipping and rail centers in the country. Erie County is home to numerous inventors and inventions such as the Ball Jar, Barca Lounger and air conditioning all originated in Buffalo. Wilson Greatbatch developed the implantable pacemaker in Clarence, and Bell Aircraft was one of the nation’s largest suppliers of aircraft during WW II. Erie County boasts many major works by both local and national architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, H.H. Richardson, E.B. Green, William Wicks, and Louise Bethune. Famous writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain and Lauren Belfer have all called the area “home”. Erie County has also given the world Fisher-Price toys and the chicken wing.

# # #