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Presidential Visits to Buffalo: A List
Illustration courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net
We were pleasantly surprised by how many presidential visits we were able to find!
For Grover Cleveland, we list visits starting in 1882 and after, which is when he left Buffalo to serve as Governor of New York. We have a map of Buffalo sites associated with Cleveland.
We omitted Millard Fillmore because he lived here before and after his presidency.
Special thanks to Steve Cichon of BuffaloStories.com and John Edens of the University at Buffalo Archives for providing several dates. Did we miss one? Please let us know and supply a source if possible.
Key:
Dates read as YYYY/MM/DD or YYYY/MM
🔺= Visit was before his election to the presidency
▀ = Visit was after he left office
Date | President | Activities | Sources | |
🔺 1813/10/24 | Harrison, William H. | Arrived at Buffalo with 1,300 troops during the War of 1812 | Messages and letters of William Henry Harrison, Vol. 2, p. xxxii Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Commission, 1922 | |
1817/08/09 | Monroe, James | First true presidential visit to Buffalo. Delivered speech at Landon's Hotel, later known as the Mansion House. | F127 .E6 S6 1976, v.1 p. 180 Smith, H. Perry, ed. History of the City of Buffalo… Syracuse, NY: D. Mason, 1884 Buffalo Gazette, August 12, 1817 | |
🔺 1835/09/09 | Van Buren, Martin | Visited Buffalo | Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, September 9, 1835, p. 1 | |
1839/09/03 | Van Buren, Martin | Speech at Erie County Courthouse and possibly dedication of Poinsett Barracks, now the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site | Extra Globe, v. 5 no. 20, September 18, 1839, p. 307 Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, September 3, 1839 | |
▀ 1843/07/26 | Adams, John Quincy | Delivered speech | Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 27, 1843 | |
▀ 1843/10/29 | Adams, John Quincy | Attended Unitarian Church with Millard Fillmore | F116 .B83 P86 v. XI, pp. 190-191 Millard Fillmore Papers, v. 2 Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Historical Society, 1907 Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, October 30, 1843, p. 2 | |
🔺 1848/08/09 | Van Buren, Martin | Nominated for president by the Free Soil party in their convention in Lafayette Square | Dyer, Oliver Oliver Dyer's phonographic report of the proceedings of the National Free Soil Convention at Buffalo, N.Y., August 9th and 10th, 1848 | |
🔺 1848/10/01 | Lincoln, Abraham | Traveled from Albany to Buffalo by rail, then boarded a steamer to Chicago | Fagant, John The Best of the Bargain: Lincoln in Western New York, p.8 AuthorHouse, 2010 | |
🔺 1854/10/31 | Garfield, James | Visited former pupils in Williamsville, left Buffalo on a steamer to Detroit | Fuller, Corydon E. Reminiscences of James A. Garfield p. 169 Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing Co, 1887 | |
🔺 1857/07/25 | Lincoln, Abraham | Toured Niagara Falls | Mr. Lincoln and New York | |
1861/02/16 | Lincoln, Abraham | Speech at the American Hotel | Mr. Lincoln and New York | |
1865/04/27 | Lincoln, Abraham | Lincoln’s body lies in state at St. James Hall | Buffalo History Works | |
🔺 1866/06/02 | Grant, Ulysses | Suppressing the Fenian Raid | Allen, Stephen Merrill Memorial life of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, p. 41 Boston, MA: The author, 1889 Conant,, Charles Arthur History of Buffalo, p. 84 Progress of the Empire State Company, 1913 | |
1866/08/08 | Johnson, Andrew | To elect delegates to statewide convention | Johnson, Andrew The Papers of Andrew Johnson, vol. 11: August 1866 to January 1867 Knoxville: Univ. of Tennessee Press, 1994 | |
1866/09/03 | Johnson, Andrew | Visited Niagara Falls, then went to Buffalo and greeted the public at the Erie St. Depot. Welcomed by Millard Fillmore, dined at the home of Mayor Wells. | F116 .B83 P86 v. IV, p. 343 Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Historical Society, 1896 Buffalo Courier, Sept. 3, 1866 | |
▀ 1880/10/28 | Grant, Ulysses | Visited Buffalo with Roscoe Conkling | “Grant and Conkling.” Buffalo Morning Express, October 25, 1880, p. 4 | |
🔺 1883/06/20 | Cleveland, Grover | Visited Buffalo | Jamestown Evening Journal, June 21, 1883, p.1 | |
🔺 1883/08/11 | Cleveland, Grover | Visited Buffalo for a hunting & fishing trip | Buffalo Daily Courier, August 12, 1883 | |
🔺 1884/04/04 | Cleveland, Grover | Gave speech at the G.A.R. banquet | Cleveland, Grover, and Albert E. Bergh Addresses, State Papers and Letters New York: Sundial Classics Co., 1908 | |
🔺 1884/07/04 | Cleveland, Grover | Attended the dedication of the Soldiers & Sailors monument in Lafayette Square | Gluck, James Fraser Addresses and Miscellanies, p. 213 Buffalo, NY: [The author?],1904 | |
🔺 1884/10/02 | Cleveland, Grover | Visited Buffalo while campaigning for president | Buffalo Evening Telegraph, October 2, 1884, p. 1 | |
🔺 1884/11/03 | Cleveland, Grover | Traveled to Buffalo from the Governor’s mansion in Albany to vote in the presidential election | Buffalo Evening News, November 3, 1884, p. 1 | |
1885/01/08 | Cleveland, Grover | Visited Buffalo after being elected President but before his inauguration | Buffalo Evening News, January 7, 1885, p. 1 | |
1885/11/02 | Cleveland, Grover | Traveled to Buffalo from Washington to vote | Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, November 3, 1885, p. 3 | |
▀ 1889/12/13 | Cleveland, Grover | Banquet hosted by Merchant’s Exchange | Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, December 13, 1889 | |
▀ 1891/05/11 | Cleveland, Grover | Banquet at Iroquois Hotel for the Semi-Centennial of the German Young Men’s Association; visited the mayor’s office on May 12. | Cleveland, Grover, and Albert E. Bergh Addresses, State Papers and Letters New York: Sundial Classics Co., 1908 Buffalo Times, May 12, 1891, p. 1 | |
▀ 1892/10/27 | Cleveland, Grover | Guest of the Cleveland Club | ||
🔺 1893/01/26 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Speech, “Duties of American citizenship” at the Chapter House (now 95 Johnson Park, Buffalo, NY), hosted by the Liberal Club. | Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt | |
🔺 1894/10/25 | McKinley, William | Campaign stop in Buffalo and Dunkirk | ||
🔺 1895/09/10 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Speech on Americanism in Municipal Politics at the Liberal Club | Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt | |
🔺 1895/09/11 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Speech on law enforcement at the Liberal Club | Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt | |
1897/08/24 | McKinley, William | Dinner at the Ellicott Club, remarks from balcony of unnamed Buffalo hotel, speech at Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Camp-fire, Asbury Delaware Church | McKinley, William Speeches and Addresses of William McKinley: From March 1, 1897 to May 30, 1900 New York: Doubleday & McClure Co, 1900 | |
1897/08/25-26 | McKinley, William | Led the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) parade in Buffalo; visited Cayuga Island in Niagara Falls, the proposed site of the Pan-American Exposition; addressed veterans at the Delaware Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church | Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1897 New York Times, August 26, 1897 Dumych, Daniel M. Niagara Falls, Vol. II, p. 57 Images of America, ©1998 | |
🔺 1898/10/17 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Visited during campaign for governor | Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt | |
🔺 1898/10/25 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Visited during campaign for governor, held rally at St. Stanislaus parish hall/ | Buffalo Evening News, October 26, 1898 Am-Pol Eagle, February 20, 2025, p. 7 | |
🔺 1898/10/30 | Taft, William Howard | Campaign rally at the Broadway Arsenal | Buffalo Courier, October 31, 1898, p. 7 | |
🔺 1899/05/15 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Speech on property and the state at the Independent Club | Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt | |
🔺 1900/10/31 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Campaign speech at the Broadway Market. | Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trspeeches.html Am-Pol Eagle, February 20, 2025, p. 7 | |
🔺 1901/02/22 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Dedicated a memorial to the Spanish American War, addressed the DAR | Caliendo, Ralph J. New York City Mayors, p. 10 Bloomington, IN: Xlibris, 2010 | |
🔺 1901/05/20 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Speech at the opening of the Pan-American Exposition | Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt | |
1901/09/04- 1901/09/14 | McKinley, William | Assassinated in Buffalo after giving speech in the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition | Everett, Marshall Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination United States: Marshall Everett?, 1901 | |
1901/09/07 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Rushed to Buffalo after McKinley was shot, then returned to the Adirondacks because McKinley’s condition was improving | Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site | |
1901/09/14 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Took oath of office at Ansley Wilcox mansion after death of William McKinley | Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site | |
▀ 1903/10/09 | Cleveland, Grover | Returned to Buffalo for the funeral of his friend Wilson Bissell. This was Cleveland’s first visit to Buffalo in “11 or 12 years,” according to the Buffalo Morning Express. It was also his final visit to Buffalo. | “Mr. Cleveland’s Tribute.” Buffalo Morning Express, October 10, 1903, p. 7 | |
🔺 1908/02/22 | Taft, William | Gives speeches at the Ellicott Club and the Saturn Club | “Taft, Guest of Buffalo.” Buffalo Express, February 23, 1908, p. 20. | |
▀ 1910/11/01 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Speech on high cost of living at Broadway Arsenal & Convention Hall | Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site | |
1910/04/30 | Taft, William Howard | Dinner in honor of the amalgamation of the Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturer's Club, plus a visit to the Wilcox Mansion | Buffalo News Photo Galleries http://galleries.buffalonews.com Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site | |
🔺1912/02/03 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Senator Roosevelt gives a speech at Saturn Club. | “Senator Roosvevelt Tells What New York’ll Do to Convention.” Buffalo Courier, February 3, 1912 | |
🔺 1912/09/02 | Wilson, Woodrow | Labor Day campaign speeches at Braun’s Park & Lafayette Hotel | American Presidency Project www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=65402 DiNunzio, Mario Woodrow Wilson: Essential Writings, pp. 341-349 New York: New York University Press, 2006 | |
▀ 1913/06/10 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Speech at Progressive Club, Elmwood Music Hall | Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site | |
▀ 1915/01/22 | Taft, William Howard | Guest of State Bar Association | Buffalo Evening News, January 19, 1915, p. 1 | |
▀ 1915/08/02 | Roosevelt, Theodore | Visited Buffalo | Buffalo Courier, August 2, 1915 | |
1916/11/01 | Wilson, Woodrow | Campaign stop | Am-Pol Eagle, February 20, 2025, p. 7 | |
▀ 1917/01/05 | Taft, William Howard | Guest of honor and principal speaker at 50th anniversary of the Buffalo Club | Buffalo Courier, January 5, 1917 | |
1917/11/12 | Wilson, Woodrow | Speech at American Federation of Labor Convention | Scott, James Brown, ed. President Wilson's Foreign Policy Messages, Addresses, and Papers New York: Oxford U. Press, 1918 | |
🔺 1919/08/06 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Speech at the Knights of Columbus Peace Convention | U.S. National Archives Knights of Columbus Peace Convention (Speech File ) | |
🔺 1919/11/21 | Hoover, Herbert | Speech at Polish Convention in Dom Polski | Lerski, Jerzi Jan Herbert Hoover and Poland: A Documentary History of a Friendship Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press, 1977 | |
🔺 1920/01/08 | Hoover, Herbert | Speech at Elmwood Music Hall about European war relief | F116 .B83 P86, v. 28, p. 374 Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Historical Society, 1922 | |
🔺 1920/10/21 | Harding, Warren | Campaign speech at Broadway Auditorium | Buffalo Times, Oct.20, 1920, p. 1 | |
🔺 1921/01/08 | Hoover, Herbert | Speech on behalf of starving Belgians at Elmwood Music Hall | Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, January. 8, 1921 | |
🔺 1922/07/11 | Coolidge, Calvin | Speech at Ellicott Club | Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 11, 1922 | |
🔺 1928/10/20 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Speech in Buffalo while campaigning for Governor | Roosevelt, Franklin D, and John Grafton Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1999 | |
🔺 1930/08/27 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Speech at State Federation of Labor Convention in Buffalo | U.S. National Archives State Federation of Labor (Speech File 387). August 27, 1930 | |
🔺 1930/10/20 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Speech in Buffalo as Governor | U.S. National ArchivesCampaign Speech (Speech File 397) of October 20, 1930 | |
🔺 1932/10/18 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Speech in Buffalo as Governor | U.S. National ArchivesCampaign Speech (Speech File 3556) of October 18, 1932 | |
1933/10/02 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Unknown | Buffalo Courier-Express, October 13, 1962, sec. 7, p. 1 | |
1936/10/17 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Dedication of Federal Building in Buffalo and athletic field in Niagara Falls, brief stop at the Broadway Market | American Presidency Project Am-Pol Eagle, February 20, 2025, p. 7 | |
1940/11/02 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. | Campaign speech; tour of Bell Aircraft factory on Elmwood Ave and Bethlehem Steel in Lackawanna. | American Presidency Project “F.D.R. in Lackawanna.” Buffalo Evening News, Nov. 2, 1940, p. 6 | |
🔺1945/04/07 | Truman, Harry S | Arrived by train at Central Terminal, gave a speech at the Statler Hotel, and attended services at the Church of the Good Shepherd, according to letter in private collection | “Speech of Vice President Harry S. Truman in Buffalo, New York, April 7, 1945.” Harry S Truman Library & Museum Gibbons, Christine. “Wild About Harry: Truman in Buffalo.” Western New York Heritage, Summer 2021, pp. 62-69. Am-Pol Eagle, February 20, 2025, p. 7 | |
1947/06/13 | Truman, Harry S | Unknown | Buffalo News Photo Galleries | |
1948/10/08 | Truman, Harry S | Campaign speech at Eagle Hall | American Presidency Project | |
▀ 1951/10/10 | Hoover, Herbert | Attends dedication of Herbert Hoover Elementary School in Tonawanda | “When Presidents Came to Buffalo.” Buffalo News, Feb. 17, 2020 | |
1952/10/09 | Truman, Harry S | Speech in Memorial Auditorium. Mentioned communism and immigration quotas. | American Presidency Project Harry S. Truman Library & Museum | |
🔺 1952/10/23 | Eisenhower, Dwight | Campaign visit, motorcade from Central Terminal, down Broadway. | Photograph in NY State Archives Am-Pol Eagle, February 20, 2025, p. 7 | |
🔺 1953/04/30 | Kennedy, John F. | Speech as senator at Democratic Party fundraiser, Statler Hotel | Buffalo Courier-Express, April 19, 1953, p. 11C | |
🔺 1956/10/16 | Nixon, Richard | Campaign visit on behalf of President Eisenhower | ||
🔺 1959/05/22 | Kennedy, John F. | Keynote speaker at Grover Cleveland dinner, Statler Hilton hotel | “May 22, 1959: Sen. John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy visit Buffalo.” Buffalo News, May 22, 2014 | |
🔺 1960/09/28 | Kennedy, John F. | Campaign speech in Memorial Auditorium | John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum | |
🔺 1960/10/17 | Nixon, Richard | Campaign stop at Polish Union Hall & War Memorial Auditorium | American Presidency Project | |
🔺 1960/11/02 | Johnson, Lyndon | Campaign stop at the Lafayette Hotel | “A Salute to the Crowd.” Buffalo Courier-Express, November 3, 1960, p. 24 | |
▀ 1962/03/26 | Truman, Harry S | Honorary L.L.D. degree bestowed by Canisius College | Buffalo Courier-Express, December 27, 1962, sec. 5. p. 1 | |
1962/10/14 | Kennedy, John F. | Speech in Niagara Square for Pulaski Day parade and at Municipal Airport, Niagara Falls | American Presidency Project | |
1964/10/15 | Johnson, Lyndon | Campaign stop in Niagara Square | Buffalo Evening News, October 15, 1964 American Presidency Project | |
1966/08/19 | Johnson, Lyndon | Speech in Niagara Square about cleaning up pollution in Lake Erie. Also mentioned Medicare and the higher education act of 1965. Visit was arranged by Stanley Spisiak. | American Presidency Project | |
🔺 1968/10/17 | Nixon, Richard | Campaign stop at Memorial Auditorium | Buffalo Evening News, October 18, 1968 | |
1976/10/31 | Ford, Gerald | Republican Party fundraiser in Golden Ballroom at Statler-Hilton Hotel, mass at St. Stanislaus | American Presidency Project | |
🔺 1977/05/22 | Reagan, Ronald | Event at the Statler Hotel with Erie County Executive Ned Regan | Buffalo Evening News, May 23, 1977 Sec. 1, p. 10 | |
▀ 1977/10/19 | Ford, Gerald | Addresses the Buffalo Council on World Affairs at the Statler Hotel | Gerald R. Ford Post-Presidential Office Files www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/guides/findingaid/fordppof.asp#tripevent | |
1978/10/28 | Carter, Jimmy | Campaign stop at Greater Buffalo International Airport for Gov. Hugh Carey. | American Presidency Project | |
🔺 1979/10/06 | Reagan, Ronald | Campaign visit for Ed Rutkowski and visit with Jack Kemp, speech at the Buffalo Convention Center | Buffalo Evening News, October 7, 1979, Section B, p.11 | |
🔺 1980/01/29 | Bush, George H.W. | Campaign speech at the Saturn Club | ||
🔺 1980/09/11 | Reagan, Ronald | Campaign visit with Jack Kemp, speech at the Port of Buffalo | Buffalo Evening News , Sept. 12, 1980, p. 1 | |
1980/10/01 | Carter, Jimmy | Speech at the Annual Convention of the Civil Service Employees Association, Niagara Falls | American Presidency Project | |
🔺 1980/10/12 | Bush, George H.W. | Gives speech at Thruway Plaza | ||
🔺 1981/05/30 | Bush, George H.W. | Speech at Genesee Community College, Batavia NY | Buffalo Evening News, May 30, 1981 | |
1984/09/12 | Reagan, Ronald | Speech at D'Youville College for the dedication of Santa Maria Towers | American Presidency Project | |
🔺 1987/12/15 | Bush, George H.W. | Campaign speech at Hyatt Regency Hotel | ||
🔺 1988/04/13 | Bush, George H.W. | Campaign speech | ||
▀ 1988/09/26 | Ford, Gerald | Speech at the University at Buffalo | UB Reporter, September 29, 1988 | |
▀ 1989/05/04 | Carter, Jimmy | Speech at the University at Buffalo | UB Reporter, May 11, 1989 | |
🔺 1992/03/21 | Clinton, William | Campaign speech at Radisson Hotel | Buffalo Stories Archives & Blog | |
🔺 1992/08/23 | Clinton, William | Bus tour campaign stop at Canisius College | ||
1996/10/03 | Clinton, William | Campaign speech at Greater Buffalo International Airport before heading to Chautauqua for debate preparation | American Presidency Project | |
1999/01/20 | Clinton, William | Speech in Marine Midland Arena on health care and other issues | American Presidency Project | |
▀ 1999/09/29 | Bush, George H.W. | Speech at the University at Buffalo | Buffalo News, October 1, 1999 | |
🔺2000/03/04 | Bush, George W. | Brief campaign stop at Prior Aviation and Mt. Olive Baptist Church | ||
▀ 2000/09/20 | Bush, George H.W. | Tours Roswell Park while campaigning for his son George | ||
▀ 2002/04/10 | Clinton, William | Speech at the University at Buffalo | Buffalo News, April 10, 2002 | |
2004/04/20 | Bush, George W. | Speech at Kleinhans Music Hall on the USA PATRIOT act | American Presidency Project | |
🔺 2004/09/30 | Trump, Donald J. | Speech at the University at Buffalo | UB Reporter, October 7, 2004 www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/archive/vol36/vol36n6/articles/Trump.html | |
▀ 2007/08/27 | Clinton, William | Reception at Babeville during Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign | ||
▀ 2008/12/10 | Clinton, William | Guest of Tom Golisano at Sabres game in HSBC Arena | ||
2010/05/13 | Obama, Barack | Tour of Industrial Support Co., Depot St., Buffalo; stop for chicken wings at Duff’s in Cheektowaga | Remarks by the President on the Economy. Whitehouse.gov, May 13, 2010 | |
2013/08/22 | Obama, Barack | Speech at University of Buffalo Alumni Arena | ||
🔺2014/01/31 | Trump, Donald J. | Keynote speaker at the Erie County Republican Committee Lincoln Leadership Reception at Salvatore's Italian Gardens | “When Presidents Came to Buffalo.” Buffalo News, Feb. 17, 2020 | |
▀ 2016/04/05 | Clinton, William | Speech at Grapevine Banquets in support of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign | ||
🔺 2016/04/18 | Trump, Donald J. | Campaign rally at First Niagara (now Key) Center. | ||
🔺 2018/10/26 | Biden, Joseph R. | Speech as part of the UB Distinguished Speaker Series at Alumni Arena | ||
2022/05/18 | Biden, Joseph R. | Speech at the Delavan-Grider Community Center about the mass shooting at Tops supermarket |
This list is online at http://tinyurl.com/BECHS005
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