About
East Aurora is a small town in western New York, a short drive from Buffalo. It is best known as the birthplace of the Arts and Crafts movement in America and as the home of the Roycroft artisan community, which gives the town much of its character today.
What to see
- The Roycroft Campus, a historic complex of buildings preserved from the Roycroft community, where the craft tradition that shaped the town began.
- The Millard Fillmore House, the birthplace of the 13th President of the United States, open for visitors who want a closer look at the town's connection to national history.
- Main Street, lined with independent shops and galleries, where browsing is an easy way to spend an unhurried hour or two.
What kind of visit it makes
East Aurora suits a relaxed day trip or a longer stay built around art, architecture and local history. The Roycroft Campus offers the most distinctive experience, since the buildings themselves reflect the movement's ideas about handmade work. The Fillmore House adds a historical thread, and the shops along Main Street make it easy to take home something made locally.
Because the town is small, most of what it offers can be reached on foot once you arrive, which keeps the pace gentle. Visitors coming from Buffalo can combine a visit here with the wider attractions of western New York.
