Silo City for Students 1 2018 School Tour Grid

During this tour, some important themes are: Industrialization, Technological Advancements, Local Economy, Adaptive Reuse

Tour Stop & General Info Primary K-4 Middle 5-8 Secondary 9-12 What is a community? Individuals in a Community Regional & Global Communities

#1 Main Parking Area Welcome students to Silo City. Welcome to Silo City, once a busy Welcome to Silo City, explain Ask them what they see. Prompt industrial site packed with workers & that this was once a busy Silo City is a campus of 4 grain them to point out forms of activity. It fell mostly vacant, & then Rick industrial site, fell vacant, & elevators: American, Perot, transportation (train tracks, Smith purchased the site. He turned it into eventually purchased by Rick Marine A, and Lake & Rail. They boats). Let the students know a cultural center where people like us can Smith. were purchased by Rick Smith for that this used to be a busy site come on tours to learn about Buffalo’s past $40,000 each. Smith originally filled with workers. & see it up close. Discuss forms of transportation wanted to convert the site to an and how grain would have been ethanol plant; that didn’t work The grain elevators were built Prompt students to point out forms of shipped from the Midwest to the out, so it became the cultural here because this spot is on the transportation. Discuss how transportation Atlantic ocean, eventually over center it is today. water, and Buffalo was an helps us move goods around. Erie Canal - the Erie Canal. Buffalo became a important port because of the connected Great Lakes to Atlantic Ocean - major transshipment site, Swannie Jim lives at Silo City as Erie Canal. cut down shipping time from situated right at the juncture of the site manager. weeks/months to about 7 days. Cut down the Great Lakes & the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal was a human- cost from ~$100/ton to ~$10/ton. Erie Discuss the Erie Canal & its The Erie Canal was the main made waterway that was built Canal was a leading factor that transformed impact on grain shipment. catalyst for Buffalo’s becoming a almost 200 years ago! It Buffalo into a thriving city. major grain port. Buffalo became a connected the lake and the gateway to the west, and a ocean. Thanks to the Canal, These grain silos were built here because transshipment site where grain people & goods could now go Buffalo was an important port. In order to travelling in lake ships was directly across New York State connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic transferred to canal barges. Grain in only about 7 days! It was Ocean, the Erie Canal was built.Existing was originally unloaded into the much cheaper, too. towns expanded and grew along the canal. silos manually by dockworkers. The Erie Canal was the leading factor that helped Buffalo transform into a thriving city. Ships stopped in Buffalo before delivering goods to other places.

Silo City for Students 2 2018 School Tour Grid

During this tour, some important themes are: Industrialization, Technological Advancements, Local Economy, Adaptive Reuse

Tour Stop & General Info Primary K-4 Middle 5-8 Secondary 9-12 What is a community? Individuals in a Community Regional & Global Communities

#2 Outside of Marine A Explain that grain is a part of a Grain is a crop; it’s like the seed Grain is a crop, the seed part of a Near Kayak Launch plant, like a seed. Grain grows in the part of a plant. It grows in plant. It grows in Midwestern states Midwest, the middle of our country, Midwestern states like Iowa, like Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, & Grain is a small, dry hard seed, often in states like Iowa, Illinois, Illinois, Nebraska, & Kansas. Grain Kansas, where it is harvested & with an attached hull or fruit layer. Nebraska, & Kansas. The grain was is harvested there & then shipped then shipped along the Great Lakes Grain is harvested for both human harvested in the Midwest, then along the Great Lakes to Buffalo, to Buffalo, where it is stored in silos and animal consumption. A grain shipped to Buffalo, where we stored where it is stored in Silos until it is until it is ready to be used. crop is a grain-producing plant. it until we were ready to use it. We ready to be used. stored it in these structures called Explain how grain is ground into After they’re harvested, dry grains silos, or tall towers shaped like Grain is ground into flour & made flour & used in a variety of foods. are more durable than other staple cylinders/pop cans. into a variety of goods. You Explain General Mills’s local foods. Because of this, grains are probably ate grains for breakfast! production. well suited to industrial agriculture What foods have grain in them? It’s used in cereals like Cheerios & since they can be mechanically What did you eat for breakfast Lucky Charms, which are both harvested, transported long today? Bread, cereal, oatmeal, made in Buffalo by a company distances, stored for long periods, muffins, donuts, cake… called General Mills. That’s why and milled for flour/pressed for oil. sometimes the air smells like Thus, there are major global Cheerios & Lucky Charms are both Cheerios. markets for grains much more so made in Buffalo, by a company than for other crops. called General Mills. Sometimes the

air smells like Cheerios!

Silo City for Students 3 2018 School Tour Grid

During this tour, some important themes are: Industrialization, Technological Advancements, Local Economy, Adaptive Reuse Tour Stop & General Info Primary K-4 Middle 5-8 Secondary 9-12 What is a community? Individuals in a Community Regional & Global Communities

#3 Inside Ground Level What shape are these silos? What These silos are in the shape of Discuss the reasoning behind using of Marine A - Close End other kinds of containers can you cylinders – why do you think that a cylindrical shape for the silos, and think of that are the same shape? shape was chosen? Why not a compare other The silos are constructed in a The silos are like large pop rectangular or square shape? What industrial/commercial containers circular, cylindrical shape, with cans/oatmeal containers/etc. other containers also use a that also use a cylindrical shape. interstitial spaces in between that cylindrical shape? were also used for grain storage. These huge silos were completely Explain the use and activity at the The circular shape was used since it filled with grain for a very long These silos were in active use for silos at the height of Buffalo’s grain has smooth edges and no corners time. It took many workers to move many years. The silo we’re standing industry. for grain to get caught in. the grain into & out of the silos. in & all the other around here were completely filled with grain, and Explain some of the reasons for the Buffalo’s grain industry fell into However, Buffalo went through a many employees worked here to decline in Buffalo’s grain industry, decline for several reasons, time when many of its businesses keep the grain storage, use, and including the rise of railroads & including the rise of railroad & closed down. Many of the silos shipment moving smoothly. automobiles rather than water the automobile use rather than water stopped being used, and the transport goods, and the opening of travel to transport goods, as well as workers lost their jobs. The silos Do we still use water to transport the St. Lawrence Seaway. the opening of the St. Lawrence stayed empty for a long time. goods today? As the use of Seaway in Canada, which diverted automobiles and airplanes grew, Though most of them are no longer traffic from the Erie Canal. the use of water fell, and Buffalo’s in use, Buffalo’s grain elevators are grain silos started to fall into disuse. still very important to our city Buffalo has the largest collection of because it’s the largest collection of grain elevators in the world (13 still Even though they’re not all in use, grain elevators in the world. standing) – which makes us an Buffalo has preserved some of its important cultural/architectural grain elevators – today, we have destination. the largest collection of grain elevators in the world!

Silo City for Students 4 2018 School Tour Grid

During this tour, some important themes are: Industrialization, Technological Advancements, Local Economy, Adaptive Reuse

Tour Stop & General Info Primary K-4 Middle 5-8 Secondary 9-12 What is a community? Individuals in a Community Regional & Global Communities

#4 Inside Ground Level Using the subterranean and the Using the subterranean and the Using the subterranean and the of Marine A - Far End elevator, describe to students how elevator, describe to students how elevator, describe to students how grain would have been transported grain would have been transported grain would have been transported Just outside the far end of Marine A, from trains into the silos. from trains into the silos. from trains into the silos. there is an open ‘pit’ where trains would have dumped grain into a Have you come to this space before Have you come here before with Have you come here before with subterranean hopper. Once you’re with your family? You can! They put your family or friends? There are your family or friends? There are inside Marine A, you can see the on plays, poetry readings, music tours, parties, concerts, festivals, tours, parties, concerts, festivals, subterranean hopper (now filled performances, and festivals here! weddings, plays, poetry readings, weddings, plays, poetry readings, with water) and explain using the People from all over the world and more! Today, people come from and more! Today, people come from existing structures how grain would come to Silo City to see the grain all over New York, the United all over New York, the United have been scooped our of the elevators and to enjoy this space. States, and even the world to visit States, and even the world to visit hopper by a grain elevator up to the the Silos! the Silos! top of the elevator, to then be dropped into the silos. This space is constantly changing This space is constantly changing with new art installations being with new art installations being Today, this grain elevator is a added and removed. It’s never the added and removed. It’s never the vibrant cultural space – Torn Space same space from one visit to the same space from one visit to the Theatre performs multi-media next! next plays in this space, Just Buffalo Literary Center hosts poetry readings here, and artists are commissioned to install pieces here.

Silo City for Students 5 2018 School Tour Grid

During this tour, some important themes are: Industrialization, Technological Advancements, Local Economy, Adaptive Reuse

Tour Stop & General Info Primary K-4 Middle 5-8 Secondary 9-12 What is a community? Individuals in a Community Regional & Global Communities

#5 Grass Lot Between Perot & The silos you see here today are The silos you see here today are Silos today are made of concrete. At American made out of concrete. But a long made out of concrete. But a long first, silos were made out of wood! time ago, silos used to be made out time ago, they were made out of But wood catches fire very easily & The grain silos are made using a of wood! This was bad, because the wood! But the wood caught fire many grain silos burned down. process called slip-form continuous wood caught fire very easily & very easily & many grain silos Eventually engineers began to build pour construction. A mold or form many grain silos burned down. burned down. Eventually we silos in concrete, which is sturdier is built out of wood, then slowly Eventually we switched to only switched to only building silos in & resistant to fire. raised inch by inch, hour by hour as building silos in concrete, since it is concrete, since it is much sturdier & the concrete is continuously poured much sturdier and resistant to fire. resistant to fire. Silos are made using a process & hardens. This innovation mean called “slip form continuous pour that entire complexes of silos could The silos are made using a process Silos are made using a process construction.” Imagine squishing be built in days. called “slip form continuous pour called “slip form continuous pour PlayDoh through a tube – it comes (gravel) construction.” What in the world construction.” Imagine squishing out the other end shaped like the does that mean? Imagine if you PlayDoh through a tube. It would tube. Silos are built in the same way, except they’re hollow & of could squish PlayDoh through a come out the other end shaped like tube. It would come out the other the tube. These silos are built in the course much larger! As the concrete end shaped like the tube. These same way, except they’re hollow is poured into the “tube,” or mold, it silos are built in the same way, and of course much larger! As the starts to harden & set. The mold is except they’re hollow (empty on the concrete is poured into the “tube,” moved up a few inches at a time as inside) and of course much larger! or mold, it immediately starts to the concrete is poured & hardens – harden and set. This way you don’t that way you don’t need a mold as need a mold as tall as the silos - tall as the silos. instead, a shorter mold is used that is moved up a few inches at a time as the concrete is poured & hardens.

Silo City for Students 6 2018 School Tour Grid

#6 Inside Ground Level of Point out & name the hoppers and Point out & name the hoppers and Point out & name the hoppers and American rollers. Explain how these would rollers. Explain how these would rollers. Explain how these would have been used to help move grain have been used to help move grain have been used to help move grain Hoppers, or funnels, utilized gravity around inside of the silos. Silos are around inside of the silos. Explain around inside of the silos. Explain to fill 100 lb. bags of flour. The like big cans used to store grain. how silos use gravity as a primary how silos use gravity as a primary rollers on the floor would have They were filled from the top & engineering component – silos are engineering component – silos are supported a conveyor belt that emptied from the bottom. filled from the top & emptied by filled from the top & emptied by would be used to carry the grain gravity from the bottom. gravity from the bottom. being emptied from the hoppers. Explain that working in these silos used to be very dangerous. Look at Explain how dangerous it would Discuss with students some of the The American elevator was built for how close we can get to these have been for workers here. dangers of working in the silos, as the American Malting Co. in 1906. It machines today. Now imagine if well as how working conditions was the first in Buffalo to be built of they were moving quickly to If students ask about graffiti, let during the Industrial Era were reinforced concrete, and thought to transport grain. Workers could get them know that because this site much different from what we know be the first in the U.S. built using badly injured. was vacant for a long time, it was today. continuous pour slip form often broken into & vandalized. construction. If students ask about graffiti, let Today, with more activity If students ask about graffiti, let them know that because this site happening here, it is broken into them know that because this site Working in the silos was very was vacant for a long time, it was less. was vacant for a long time, it was dangerous. As you can see there often broken into & vandalized. often broken into & vandalized. was nothing to protect the workers Today, with more activity Today, with more activity from the quickly-moving machinery happening here, it is broken into happening here, it is broken into less. less.

Silo City for Students 7 2018 School Tour Grid

#7 Wharf Name the Buffalo River, & explain Point out the Buffalo River. Explain Point out the Buffalo River, & that boats used to (& still do today!) how grain used to be unloaded explain how grain used to be Joseph Dart (1799-1879), a Buffalo travel along here to the grain manually into the silos. unloaded manually by into the merchant who invented the grain elevators, which would unload silos. elevator with the help of machinist them. The technological development of Robert Dunbar. Grain coming to the grain elevator, invented by Explain Dart’s grain elevator, Buffalo was originally unloaded by The boats used to be unloaded by Buffalonian Joseph Dart, invented here in Buffalo in 1842. dock workers who carried bushels hand. Workers would climb into the contributed to Buffalo becoming a The first grain elevator was built by of grain from the cargo’s hold to the boats, fill big barrels on their backs leading grain port in the US. the Erie Basin Marina - there’s a top of the silo. Dart developed a with grain, & then climb out of the Unloading the boats manually used plaque there today you can see next conveyor belt system, marking a boat & all the way up to the top of to take a week or longer, while the time you visit. turning point from manual to the silos to dump the grain in. They invention of the grain elevators, a mechanized labor. did this over & over again for hours! conveyor belt system, cut that time A Buffalonian named Joseph Dart down to several days. Point out & describe how the While ships were unloaded by wanted to make things easier & marine legs could be moved to help Dart’s elevator, workers called faster for the workers, so he unload the boats. scoopers were still needed to go invented the grain elevator, which Point out & describe how the into the ship’s cargo hold to shovel was like a conveyor belt that marine legs could be moved to help and sweep all of the grain onto the scooped the grain out of the boats & unload the boats. conveyor belt. dumped it into the silos. Thanks to the grain elevator, boats could be The marine towers could be moved unloaded in just a couple of hours, along a track, making it easier to rather than a couple of days! unload the boats. Point out & describe how the Bushel = 60 lbs. marine legs could be moved to help unload the boats.

Silo City for Students 8 2018 School Tour Grid

#8 Inside Ground Level of Point out grain elevator conveyor See left. See left. Perot belt to help students visualize what it looked like & how it worked. Point out the art on the walls, & explain that Rick Smith is happy to Point out the art on the walls. have the silos filled with art as long Explain that Rick Smith is really as it can be removed. That’s why open to having art put up in the these photos, pasted to the walls, silos, but that it must always be are so worn. They’re not meant to removable - nothing can be last forever, and will probably be permanent. That’s why these pieces replaced by other art pieces look worn down & faded. They’re someday. not meant to last forever.

Grain was also brought to this site by train. Train cars were unloaded by gravity – the grain dropped into a subterranean hopper, where it would be scooped from by the grain elevator.

Explain too that while the silos were filled with stairways, most workers used a “man lift” – which can be easily imagined/described using the conveyor belt here.

Silo City for Students 9 2018 School Tour Grid

During this tour, some important themes are: Industrialization, Technological Advancements, Local Economy, Adaptive Reuse

Tour Stop & General Info Primary K-4 Middle 5-8 Secondary 9-12 What is a community? Individuals in a Community Regional & Global Communities

#9 Lot Next to Lake & Rail People from all over the world Architects from all over the world Architects worldwide have been have come to Buffalo to study have been influenced by the influenced by the construction & style of These grain elevators are so how the silos were built. construction & style of Buffalo’s Buffalo’s grain elevators. They’re even important to preserve because grain elevators. said to have been a major influence on they have had a profound modernist architecture, which influence on the development of emphasizes form over function. modern architecture. The complete lack or exterior ornamentation was in stark contrast to most building being constructed at the time. Leading Modern architects were inspired by Buffalo’s grain elevators – Form Follows Function & Less is More.

Le Corbusier, 1923: “Thus we have the American grain elevators & factories, the magnificent first fruits of a new age. The American engineers overwhelm with their calculations our expiring architecture.”