Buffalo has long flown under the radar—but it wasn’t always that way. Frederick Law Olmsted—the mastermind behind other famous New York green areas like Manhattan’s Central Park and upstate’s Niagara Falls—designed the country’s first and oldest park system here, in Buffalo, in the mid-to-late 1800s (850 acres of which are still intact today). Then, at the turn of the 20th century, Buffalo was among the most prosperous and populous ports in the nation. Not only did it have a strategic trade position on the Canadian border, it was also a stronghold for the manufacturing and shipping industries. Although it may feel like Buffalo has been dormant for decades, this Rust Belt city is in the midst of a resurgence thanks to its beautifully restored architecture, burgeoning culinary scene, and new art compounds. Below, we’ve compiled seven surprising attractions that design lovers visiting the city shouldn’t miss.

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the late 1920s, Graycliff was recently restored to its former glory. Photo: Courtesy of Buffalo Aerial Pictures

Martin House and Graycliff

Frank Lloyd Wright has iconic estates all across America, namely in Scottsdale and outside Chicago. Yet he built a handful of properties in Buffalo as well. Two of which—Martin House and Graycliff—are both fresh off a decades-long restoration and back open to the public starting last summer. The eight-bedroom Martin House is a classic example of Wright’s prairie-style architecture. A $52 million renovation in 2017 returned it to its turn-of-the-century glory, even down to the original landscape plans, stained-glass windows, and custom-designed furniture. The Martin family also owned the Graycliff summer house, whose sprawling terraces overlook the shores of Lake Erie.