Cyclorama Building

Share This Page On Social Media

Comments? Corrections? Send us a message about this building

  SAVED  





Cyclorama Building. Photo by Mike Puma ViewsOfBuffalo and David Torke fixBuffalo

Location

369 Franklin Street Buffalo, NY 14202

Next to: Grosvenor Library
Across from: Lucy Curley Building, 41 Edward Street, 35 Edward Street, St. Louis RC Church, and Buffalo Music Hall

Owner

Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation
NYS Corporation and Business Entity Database

Physical Description

Two-story, sixteen-sided brick structure with large windows. 26,000 sq.ft.

Current Condition

Restored as office space

History

  • Built as an exhibit hall in 1888. Designed by Cyrus K Porter & Son.
  • In 1937 the building was condemned but escaped the wrecking ball when it was taken on as a federal project under the WPA and renovated.
  • Used for many purposes after that, and several times was threatened with demolition. Was the reading room of the Grosvenor Library from 1942 until approximately 1962.
  • Bought for a small sum at City of Buffalo auction sometime in the early 1980s.
  • Purchased by Frank Ciminelli in 1985 for $110,000 and renovated by 1989. Today it houses a law office.

Recent Events and Actions Taken

  • 2012 - Recently renovated again for new tenants

Other Pertinent Facts

  • The cyclorama, as originally patented, is a huge panoramic picture displayed in 360 degrees so that the viewer is completely surrounded by the image. The painting is lit from above and there are no visible borders to the scene at the top, or at the “ground” which blends into faux landscaping. The effect is to confuse the eye as to what is reality by taking away all other points of reference so that you truly feel you are visiting that sight.
  • Buffalo has one of only four existing historical cyclorama buildings in the US, the others being in Boston (now the art center), Atlanta (still exhibiting a panorama), and Gettysburg (currently in a fight over demolition).
  • Architect Cyrus K. Porter and Sons contributed the following buildings to Buffalo: Holy Name Church, First Free Baptist Church, Summit Building, Cyclorama Building, and the Karpeles Manuscript Museum

Links


Newest Pages

■ M&T Bank at 2197 Seneca Street ■ The Charter Place ■ 102 Johnson Park ■ 323 Ganson Street ■ 399 Amherst Street ■ 301 Dearborn Street ■ 839 Seneca Street ■ 858 Jefferson Avenue ■ M&T Bank at 1877 Main Street ■ 2079 Niagara Street ■ Purity Candy Co. / Bresnahan Inc. Plumbing ■ Newsboys Benevolent and Athletic Association ■ Niagara Post Theater ■ 277 West Delavan Avenue ■ 1028 Elmwood Avenue ■ 1024 Elmwood Avenue ■ 1020 Elmwood Avenue ■ 726 Walden Avenue ■ 708 Walden Avenue ■ 706 Walden Avenue ■ 705 Walden Avenue ■ 704 Walden Avenue ■ 701 Walden Avenue ■ 672 Walden Avenue ■ 660 Walden Avenue ■ 731 Walden Avenue ■ 697 Walden Avenue ■ 661 Walden Avenue ■ 652 Walden Avenue ■ 628 Walden Avenue

Added 2013-01-13 • Last changed 2018-10-19

Buffalo | Buildings | Commercial Buildings | Downtown | Near Miss | Saved Buildings