Buffalo Seminary, private, all-girls school in Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo, NY, US
Buffalo Seminary is a girls' boarding school located at 205 Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo, built in 1908 in Tudor Revival style. The campus features the main brick building with tall windows alongside historic houses converted into dormitories, plus Larkin Field for sports and a newly built Magavern-Sutton Courtyard connecting residential and academic spaces.
Buffalo Seminary was founded in 1851 as the Buffalo Female Academy, making it one of the oldest girls' schools in the United States. The present building was designed by architect George F. Newton in 1908 and later earned recognition on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
Buffalo Seminary began as the Buffalo Female Academy in 1851, a name that reflects its early mission to educate young women. Today the school shapes the neighborhood's cultural life through its theater program, where students perform twice yearly and participate in community events like the Candlelight House Tour.
The school sits in the quiet Elmwood Village neighborhood surrounded by cafes, galleries, and shops within walking distance. Visitors can view the building's exterior and explore the surrounding historic district, which provides a sense of the area's character and the school's place within the local community.
The school uses distinctive Harkness classrooms with large oval tables where students and teachers sit together in discussion rather than traditional rows, fostering collaborative learning. Each morning everyone gathers in the chapel for Morning Meeting, where students deliver speeches and start the day as a community.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
