Richardson Olmsted Campus
Richardson Olmsted Campus
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural Buildings
About
One of Buffalo’s most iconic buildings and a National Historic Landmark, the 145-year-old Richardson Olmsted Campus is being renewed after years of neglect. Designed by great American architect Henry Hobson Richardson and the famed landscape team of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the building incorporated a system of enlightened treatment for people with mental illness developed by Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride. Today, the Richardson Olmsted Campus is home to one of the largest historic preservation projects in the nation. Since 2006, the nonprofit Richardson has been hard at work bringing the site back to life after decades of neglect.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles89 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
22
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0

elizabetsyl
Rochester, NY11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
We had hoped to stay at the hotel but it had closed, from what we saw while on our patient life tour, we will be back if they reopen. Gorgeous. The patient life tour was incredible. The guide was very knowledgeable and we got to go into more buildings than I expected. I really enjoyed when the guide held up old photos of the locations where we were actually standing and we could compare. Looks much the same. The preservation is fantastic. I would love to go back for one of the other tours!
Written May 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Winterh
8 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
We stayed at the Richardson for 4 nights and overall had a wonderful experience. Being able to wander throughout the hotel and see all the beautiful architectural details at any time led to many wanderings and lots of pictures. We were unable to take the hard hat tour because I was unable to find the page in time to actually book it- they only give them on the weekends, and we arrived on a Saturday evening and slept in too late on Sunday. We spent 3 more days there looking at the unreachable sections from outside and speculating about other buildings on the campus. It is hauntingly gorgeous and we so enjoyed the stay overall. I was just very disappointed that I missed the narrow window to explore the unfinished sections.
Written August 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GibGibTravels
Buffalo, NY440 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
This is such a cool building inside and out. It's not really what you would expect inside but it's very neat. We've been here multiple times. It's cool just to look around. There's also a restaurant/bar which is nice. We've also been to weddings there. I know there are several tours as well, but we haven't done those.
Written July 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Neil B
Auckland, New Zealand1,180 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
We didn’t do a tour, just wandered around the outside of the buildings. Having read something of the history of the complex, it was fascinating to walk around these abandoned (except for the hotel part) Romanesque 19th century (and some more recent) buildings. Many of the buildings have creepers growing all over them, giving the place a real horror movie feel!
Written August 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

benfitt
Buffalo, NY10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016 • Family
This complex of buildings functioned as the Buffalo State Mental Hospital from about 1870 to 1974. It was designed by several different architects, including Henry Richardson. It is situated in the City of Buffalo, NY, on park-like grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The main building was designated a National Historic Landmary in 1986.
Son and I took the photography tour on 5/15/16. Only 1 other person was in our group, plus the docent, so we were able to select locations to visit and at an agreeable pace. Our docent's day job is with an architectural firm; she was highly knowledgeable about the structures in the complex and the process of their renovation. We toured renovated, in process and untouched areas of the complex, ranging from basements to the highest currently accessible floors (4th). Most interesting to us were the basement areas (because there were numerous things and spaces to photograph) and the untouched wards (plaster fallen from ceiling, paint flaking off walls, debris covering most of the floor). If you like taking pictures of dilapidated buildings, this tour is for you. If you like photographing unusual spaces (Victorian era mental hospital) this tour is also for you. This tour is probably not for you if you don't like dirty, messy places or having to take the stairs everywhere (no functioning elevators). Our experience was great. Son took 475 images. The photo tour cost $50 each; we consider it to have been worth every penny.
Written May 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for visiting the Richardson Olmsted Complex and reviewing your visit! We're so glad you enjoyed your Photography Tour -- we love sharing unusual spaces in the Complex with photographers each year. I'll pass your compliments along to your docent and we look forward to welcoming you on-site again soon!
Written May 24, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Patricia B
Tonawanda, NY68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Friends
My friend and I opted for the 2 hour in-depth tour and it was really worth it. We were able to go up into the attic and down into the basement. I would not recommend this tour for young children. The tour guides were very knowledgeable. The buildings are 99% not completely renovated. They have a long, long way to go. The 1% that was renovated was awesome with the detailed wood work, the 16 foot ceilings and the refinished hardwood floors. There are 6 flights of stairs that were taken in small sections. You need to wear closed shoes and hard hats that are supplied to you. Also, bring a small flashlight. Can't wait to see the hotel when it is finished.
Written June 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Munjo
Fredonia, NY2,582 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2013
A fascinating place with very interesting architecture. Well worth a visit. Historically significant. One of those places you can easily overlooked. Sadly, now all the lunatics are in government downstate or in Albany.
Written January 7, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lauran s
West Seneca, NY162 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2012 • Friends
If you're from Buffalo, you have most likely driven by this amazing building and grounds of the former Buffalo State Hospital designed by the famous achitect, H H Richardson. Located in the museum district, the Twin Towers stand out impressively against the sky. The Red stone-moved all the way from Medina in the mid 1800s makes an impressive statement of days gone by. The grounds were designed by Olmstead and there is the most impressive oak tree-maybe the most beautiful in the city - as you approach this grand building. When actively housing the Buffalo State Hospital it extended from Elmwood to Reese Street-and, in it's early days was the longest building in the world!
As a student I worked on the wards where you went from ward to ward through each ward's massive doors. The ceiling were so high as were the windows which brought beautiful daylight to the souls trying to regain their mental health. The main foyer has ceiling beams beautifully carved. The floors were mosaic and the stairway was truly grand! What a place! The tower rooms were massive-the heigh of them minimizes the vastnessness in each tower. The trees on the grounds are so beautiful-spring is breath-taking!
My hope is that progress continues-and that it becomes recognized as the true beauty it really is. Buffalo is blessed to have so many amazing buildings...
Written August 24, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Craig W
Iowa City, IA11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Couples
this building is amazing. There's still a lot of work to be done; the Hotel Henry is a great start and the Architecture Center coming next year will be a great addition. Go see it now before it gets too developed; part of the appeal is that it still seems a little bit like it's stuck in the 1890's.
Written October 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting and reviewing, Craig! We're so glad you enjoyed your time on-site -- we're also very excited about future redevelopment on-site (10 buildings to go!) and how we can still offer many undeveloped spaces to visitors on our public tours. We hope to see you back next year when the architecture center opens!
Written November 2, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jilllaura3
East Amherst, NY17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Couples
Very informative and interesting tour. Beautiful architecture and grounds with explanations such as why the bldg is at a slight angle and the "staircase that goes nowhere" Love that they let u go through the actual construction sites as well as seeing the old untouched parts and the renovation! And, to go up into the towers-wow! I love that we get to keep this amazing piece of beautiful history. I will definitely be back to see the progress! Oh, and thank you to our amazing VOLUNTEER tour guides, John and Katlyn!!
Written October 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Laura! Thanks so much for visiting and reviewing your experience of the Richardson Olmsted Complex. I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed your time on-site -- and learned a lot about the building's history! -- and I'll be sure to pass your kind words along to John and Katelyn! Thank you so much for joining us on-site!
Written October 3, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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