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North Tonawanda is a city of about 30,000 people in Niagara County, New York, where Tonawanda Creek and the Erie Canal meet the Niagara River, about 15 miles north of downtown Buffalo. In the late 1800s it was one of the busiest lumber ports in the world, earning the nickname Lumber City, and it later became a manufacturing town famous for carousels and theater organs.
The Allan Herschell Company built thousands of carousels here, and its restored factory is now the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, where visitors can still ride a 1916 hand-carved wooden carousel. The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company also built its Mighty Wurlitzer organs in North Tonawanda, and one of them still plays at the 1926 Riviera Theatre on Webster Street.
The waterfront ties the city to the canal and river, with boat docks at Gateway Harbor and riverside parkland at Gratwick Park. Each July the Canal Fest of the Tonawandas fills both sides of the canal. Niagara Falls is about 20 minutes away, making the city a relaxed base for the region.
The restored factory of the Allan Herschell Company, which built carousels and kiddie rides sold around the world. See the carving shop, band organs and historic rides, then take a spin on a hand-carved wooden carousel from 1916. Open seasonally; kids also love the vintage kiddie rides.
A local history museum on Webster Street with exhibits on the city's lumber port days, the Erie Canal, the Wurlitzer and Herschell factories and the people who built the community. It is small, friendly and run largely by volunteers, so check the limited opening hours before you visit.
An ornate theater on Webster Street that opened in 1926 and still features its Mighty Wurlitzer organ, built in North Tonawanda. Today it hosts concerts, comedy, tribute bands and classic film nights, often with an organ performance before the show. Check the calendar and book seats in advance.
A community art center housed in the city's 1904 Carnegie library building, with rotating exhibitions of work by regional artists, classes and small events. The classical building itself is worth a look. Admission is usually free; check the website for current shows and hours.
The waterfront where the Erie Canal meets Tonawanda Creek, with public docks, a promenade and green space shared by North Tonawanda and Tonawanda. Boaters tie up here, cyclists pass through on the Erie Canalway Trail, and summer concerts and festivals bring crowds. It is a lovely place to watch the sunset.
A city park on the bank of the Niagara River with a boat launch, fishing spots, picnic shelters and wide views across to Grand Island. It is a quiet spot for a walk or a picnic away from downtown. Summer weekends bring boaters, so arrive early for the launch.
A community botanical garden with flower beds, trees, walking paths and seasonal displays in a peaceful setting near the center of the city. It is free to stroll and especially colorful from late spring through summer. A relaxing short stop between the museums and the waterfront.
A week-long summer festival held each July along both banks of the Erie Canal in North Tonawanda and Tonawanda, with carnival rides, live music, food stands, craft vendors and a parade. It is one of the largest festivals in Western New York. Parking is tight, so use the shuttle buses.
North Tonawanda's main downtown street, lined with restored brick buildings housing restaurants, brewpubs, bakeries and shops, with the Riviera Theatre at its heart. It is short and walkable and leads down to the canal. Pair dinner here with a show at the Riviera.
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