Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society & Museum

About Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society & Museum

Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society & Museum preserves the history of Tonawanda and Kenmore through exhibits, photographs, and artifacts housed in a historic brick building that is St. Peter's Evangelical Church, built in 1849 by German settlers from Alsace-Lorraine. Visitors explore nearly 10,000 digitized historical photographs available online and view curated collections including documents, framed items, artifacts, and textiles. The adjacent cemetery contains graves of pioneering families. Inside, visitors see displays like the Erie Canal Diorama presented by historian John Percy and learn about the town's Landmark Homes program, which designated 54 historic properties. The building itself stands as one of the oldest original structures in the area. The society offers quarterly newsletters packed with local history and hosts speaker presentations. General admission is free. The venue serves history enthusiasts, genealogy researchers, and those interested in Western New York's early settlement and development.