Giant On The Lake - Erie County, New York

[Music] take a large vibrant city make  it a major American industrial hub and a Center for the Arts and Sciences set  it on the shores of a magnificently surround that city with comfortable homes  and relaxed suburban and rural settings then add the necessary ingredient  people active energetic eager to experience life in all its dimensions put  it all together and you've got Erie County New York a giant astride the shores of Lake  Erie [Music] Buffalo Queen City of the Great Lakes I'm a nucleus of a metropolitan area  containing some 1 and 1/3 million people although Buffalo is an industrial metropolis it  has a decidedly pastoral appearance thanks to the trees more than 400,000 in summer they shield  the streets and sidewalks with a cool green man Buffalo is also a town that's just  plain crazy about sports accordingly the fans turned out in record numbers  to cheer on such teams as the Buffalo Bills of National Football League theme [Music] 80,000 seat rich Stadium is the new home  of the building's sellout crowds are the rule when the Buffalo Sabres take to  the home ice it took the Sabres only three seasons in the National Hockey League  to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs [Music] and the National Basketball Association Braves  also draw enthusiastic crowds into Memorial Auditorium Buffalo's dedication to sports is  reflected in this magnificent Steuben glass trophy the Dunlap pro-am award presented  to golfer Jack Nicklaus by the area fern in addition to being avid spectator sportsman Buffalo  nians are big on participant Sports two [Music] fortunately Mother Nature has provided  Erie County with a wealth of natural resources making possible a  wide variety of activities one great natural resource that's right on  the doorstep is Lake Erie ideal for boating in all its forms [Music] summer or winter you'll  find plenty of fishermen on the lake too [Music] this majestic body of water has also helped Erie  County become one of America's major industrial centers the fortunate combination of water  abundant electrical power and a rich supply of skilled workers has built the county  into a national leader in the manufacture and processing of such basics as steel grain  automobiles chemicals and petroleum products [Music] an ultra-modern airport enhances  Buffalo's position as a major northeastern transportation hub it is also one of the largest  centers in America for rail and motor carriers the st. Lawrence Seaway has made it a port of  call for ships from all over the world thus many of the Giants of American industry  have made substantial investment here there's also a tremendous diversity of other  industries - turning out everything from toys to tires researchers and industry onto itself  with more than 100 laboratories in operation tell span formerly Cornell aeronautical laboratory  is a leader in Auto and plane at safety research the peaceful uses of nuclear energy are studied  with this reactor located on the campus of the State University of New York at Buffalo this great  educational facility in one of eight institutions of higher learning in Erie County has undergone an  expansion unprecedented in the history of American education arising from what was once farmland  the university's billion-dollar North Campus will be the largest in the Western Hemisphere [Music]  enlightenment isn't only limited to the academic world in Buffalo and Erie County a never-ending  Festival of the Arts goes on throughout the year the world-renowned albright-knox art gallery has  a permanent collection of paintings and sculpture dating from 3000 BC but it is particularly  noted for its fine display of contemporary art masterpieces [Music] albright-knox is also  a museum where young people can get personally involved in art through instruction and painting  sculpture printmaking and other creative work a wealth of afro-american art  can be seen and appreciated at the African and cultural arts center in Buffalo and if you like your art alfresco there's any  number of outdoor shows during the balmy summer months this is the Allentown Art Festival  held each June drama has its shrines to the studio arena theater in downtown Buffalo as a  school of Dramatic Arts to complement the work of a fine resident Acting Company an historic  Tonawanda which began life as a bustling lumber port on the Erie Canal Bosa theater-in-the-round  offering many fine productions during the summer why Nan's music-hall noted for its  acoustical excellence is the home of the acclaimed Buffalo Philharmonic one  of America's leading symphony orchestras the Buffalo of Museum of Science in Humboldt  Park has an observatory that is open to the public along with informative displays a  research library and educational programs for all ages a fascinating overview  of western New York State history can be gotten at the Buffalo and Erie County  Historical Museum Buffalo with its central location and wide range of facilities  has long been the ideal home base for visitors to this region and of course  a major attraction is Niagara Falls thundering while they enter the gorge below the  falls are New York State's most famous showpiece whatever this season they never lose  their enchantment and people from all over the world come to view their Splinter [Music] 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo  they are a must-see for all [Music] afterwards there are plenty of other attractions  for Erie County visitors to enjoy exotic trees shrubs and plants from all over the world are  found in Lackawanna Botanical Gardens there are many beautiful state and county parks including  Beaver Island [Music] I'm just not rich [Music] there's history Layton Old Fort Niagara  built in 1679 by the French and captured by the British twice in two later wards [Music] train buffs will enjoy the arcade  in Attica railroad which offers a 15 mile excursion under steam power more  racing fans bears the Buffalo Raceway [Music] and the Fort Erie flat-track  [Music] offer a little more horsepower try the auto races at the Lancaster  or howl on speed waves [Music] the Erie County Agricultural Society  sponsors the Erie County Fair and Exposition each year the society is the  oldest organization in Erie County and their fair is the largest such in the  United States the rain forests exhibit at the Delaware Park Zoo right in the heart  of Buffalo holds fascination for all ages the Wilcox mansion on Delaware Avenue is  the stately home where in 1901 Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office to become  the 26th President of the United States today the mansion is a National Historic  Site another historic house Mark Twain's honeymoon cottage stood on the site of  this fashionable restaurant got up in the gay nineties style it's only one of many  great eating places in the area [Music] gourmet restaurants are an indicator of the  quality of life here homes are another and home in Erie County could mean a restored townhouse  close to the sample city a modern split-level in the suburbs or a picturesque colonial in the  country for shoppers no matter where they live Erie County is a paradise of stories stocked with  merchandise in every price range huge suburban malls offer the convenience of one-stop shopping  for all of family's needs downtown Buffalo has several giant department stores offering  selections worthy of a great metropolitan center [Music] health facilities here  are superb one institution Roswell Park Memorial Institute has achieved  worldwide fame for its cancer research spiritual needs haven't been  neglected either [Music] there are many things here that combine to make  Buffalo and Erie County a great place to live or visit but it's the people really who make it all  work [Music] their energy and vision is apparent everywhere you go they've built Buffalo and  Erie County into a mighty American industrial hub without sacrificing grace or beauty in  the process they've seen to it that Erie County has something to offer everyone someday  soon why not come and see for yourself [Music]