Buffalo, New York, was one of the first planned cities in the nation, and continues to be one of America's architectural surprises. According to some, "it has more good architecture for its size than any city in America." Although many treasures have been lost, Buffalo has much to preserve and has preserved much. Lethargy alone preserved some of Buffalo's great architecture. But preservationists began their work in the mid-1960s, starting with houses and gradually encompassing even the industrial waterfront. Why people preserve places is the mystery the twelve fascinating stories in this book seek to help solve, as it lovingly documents the preservation movement in Buffalo.

I: Community -- Prelude one -- 1. The Coit House: The Beginning of preservation in Buffalo -- 2. The Wilcox Mansion: Buffalo's bully pulpit -- 3. Allentown: A neighborhood preserved -- 4. The Old Post Office: "The most beautiful space in Buffalo" -- 5. The Connecticut Street Armory: The stones of Buffalo -- II. Urbanity -- Prelude two -- 6. The Hyatt Hotel and Olympic Towers: One grandiose vision -- 7. The Calumet Café and the Emperor of Chippewa Street -- 8. The Ellicott Mall: Invisible place -- III: Architecture -- Prelude three -- 9. The Guaranty Building: Louis Sullivan preserved -- 10. Stanford White's Metcalfe House -- 11. The gardener's cottage: Living up to Wright -- 12. The Frederick Law Olmsted parks.