About Us

History

Tifft Nature Preserve is a 264-acre nature refuge and department of the Buffalo Museum of Science that is dedicated to conservation and environmental education. It’s located on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor minutes from the heart of downtown Buffalo and 15 minutes from the Museum.

The land that comprises Tifft has a fascinating history. It was once part of a huge dairy farm owned by George Washington Tifft and later became a transshipment center, primarily for coal and iron ore. During the 1950s and 1960s, the land was purchased by the City of Buffalo for a dumpsite for city refuse. 

The completed landfill incorporated many safety measures, allowing the land to have a new purpose as a nature preserve. Concerned citizens recognized the ecological importance of the site and convinced the city legislators to plan for the area’s preservation. 

Tifft began its transformation in the 1970s. Nearly two million cubic feet of solid municipal waste was enclosed in clay and covered with soil excavated from another section of the Preserve. Ponds were enlarged, trees and wildflowers were planted, and conservation of Tifft’s large cattail marsh helped attract a variety of animals. 

In 1976, the site officially became Tifft Farm Nature Preserve. Six years later, in 1982, it became a department of the Buffalo Museum of Science and was renamed Tifft Nature Preserve to better reflect its role as a protected natural area rather than a working farm. The Museum operates the Herb & Jane Darling Education Center, provides educational programming for all ages, and serves as steward of the city-owned land.

During its 50th anniversary year as a nature preserve in 2026, Tifft opened the largest accessible trail of its kind in Western New York. The three-quarter-mile loop, designed for wheelchair, walker, and stroller access, begins at the Darling Education Center and guides visitors along a compacted stone-dust trail and a fully rebuilt ADA-accessible boardwalk through the scenic cattail marsh.

Today, Tifft provides vital habitat for wildlife and a natural sanctuary within Buffalo’s urban landscape. Animals from across the region rely on its ponds, marshes, and woodlands, fulfilling a vision first imagined more than 50 years ago.

But Tifft’s story extends beyond habitat restoration. It is a living classroom, a place of discovery, and a space where wonder inspires deeper connections to nature and science.

In celebration of its “Tifftieth” anniversary as a nature preserve in 2026, Tifft unveiled a refreshed brand identity inspired by its winding waterways, interconnected trails, and flourishing plant life. The new logo reflects not only what Tifft has become, but also the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences’ shared mission to inspire joyful exploration of science and nature and its enduring commitment to preserving wonder for all who visit.