Once heavily forested frontier, the Erie Canal brought prosperity and made the region one of the largest shipping and rail centers in the country. Erie County was also the birthplace of numerous inventors or the manufacturing homes of their inventions. Buffalo has a history with the Ball glass fruit jar, the Barcalounger, and Carrier Air Conditioning. Wilson Greatbatch developed the implantable pacemaker in Clarence, and Bell Aircraft, one of the largest suppliers of aircraft during WWII, was first established on Elmwood Avenue. The county boasts major works by both local and national architects: Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, H. H. Richardson, E.B. Green and William Wicks, and Louise Bethune. Famous writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain, and Lauren Belfer have called the area “home.” The county has given the world Fisher-Price toys and the chicken wing. Today, we celebrate our heritage and look forward to a bright future. The bio-medical research corridor is at the forefront of international scientific research. Companies from across the county do business internationally and even in outer space! The county has showcased its history, art, and architecture to become a heritage tourism destination. The Buffalo Philharmonic is honored to represent Erie County internationally through our radio and television broadcasts, recordings, and touring. We are grateful to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and the members of the Erie County Legislature for supporting the arts and cultural organizations in our community, and celebrate the bicentennial of our great Erie County!
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