The Historian's Office is available as a resource for local history for both the Town of Aurora and Village of East Aurora in Erie County, New York. Since 1919, New York State law has required the appointment of an official historian in each town, village and city. 

OUR MISSION:

—To document and promote the history and heritage of the Town of Aurora and Village of East Aurora in a transparent, equitable and politically non-partisan manner.

—To advise local officials, boards and residents on issues related to the history of the town and village.

—To collect, preserve and maintain the archives for the use of the public in their own research.

—To curate and present the Aurora History Museum exhibits at the Municipal Center in collaboration with the Aurora Historical Society.

LOCATION: The Aurora Municipal Center, 575 Oakwood Avenue, East Aurora, New York 14052.

EMAIL: historian@townofaurora.com. 

MAILING ADDRESS: Aurora Municipal Center, 575 Oakwood Ave., East Aurora, NY 14052

PHONE: (716) 652-7944

 

RESEARCH HOURS: The Historian's Office archives are open for research Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m., and by appointment. Appointments are not necessary during regular office hours, but please feel free to call or email ahead and we can have materials from the archives ready for your visit. 

The Historian's Office archives will be closed on the following Wednesdays and Thursdays in 2024:

—March 14 for a Historical Society event

—June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday

—July 3 and 4 for the Independence Day holiday

—November 28 for Thanksgiving

—December 25 and 26 for Christmas

—January 1, 2025 for New Year's Day

(Due to our limited staff, unforeseen circumstances may necessitate the closing of the office on other dates. All closings will be noted on our website and social media pages as soon as possible).

 

EXHIBIT HOURS: The exhibits of the Aurora History Museum, located throughout the first-floor hallways of the Municipal Center, are open during regular Municipal Center hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., except holidays.

 

LARGE-PRINT EXHIBIT LABELS: To assist our guests in exploring the exhibits of the History Museum and inside the Historian’s Office, the exhibit labels are available for digital download and in a book on the table outside the Historian's Office door. Labels may be downloaded from our Aurora History Museum Page.

 

 

LATEST NEWS: 

Help Us Preserve Eclipse History!
On April 8, local residents looked to the sky to experience East Aurora's first totality of a solar eclipse in 99 years. For many in the East Aurora area, the thick clouds parted just in time to see the moon cover the sun.

The Aurora Town Historian's Office has already begun to collect local artifacts from the historic day to preserve for future generations, particularly for those who will be living here the next time our area is in the path of totality in 2144.

The Historian's Office is accepting photographs, videos, personal written descriptions and East Aurora-related eclipse souvenirs to preserve in the Historian's Office archives at the Aurora Municipal Center.

To contribute to this special archival collection, email items to Town and Village Historian Robert Lowell Goller at historian@townofaurora.com; stop by the Historian's Office at the Municipal Center, 575 Oakwood Avenue, Wednesday or Thursdays afternoons, 1-4 p.m.; or email for an appointment to stop in at another time.

 

1880 Map
We recently received a request for a digital scan of the 1880 map of the Town of Aurora that hangs on the wall outside the Historian's Office at the Municipal Center. The map, from the Illustrated Historical Atlas of Erie County, New-York, 1880, published by F.W. Beers & Co., may be seen in person by visiting the Municipal Center at 575 Oakwood Avenue during regular Municipal Center hours, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1880 MAP

 

1855 Map
We recently received requests for a scan of the Town of Aurora portion of an 1855 map of Erie County that hangs on the wall of the Historian's Office at the Municipal Center. The five- by five-foot tall map may be seen in person by visiting the Historian's Office at 575 Oakwood Avenue any time the Historian's Office is open for research, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1855 MAP

 

True Tales from Old Houses
Podcast discussion with Historian Robert Lowell Goller. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

 

 

FEATURED EXHIBITION:

October 21, 2024 - January 31, 2025
Checking In: The Globe Hotel Guest Registers 

Visit our Aurora History Museum page for more information.

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