Our Story

Buffalo is my home.  It is my passion. I've lived in and around Buffalo all my life and every day I learn something new about this city.  

Since I was young I've valued stories and the way that people are connected through the craft of telling them.  I believe that you can learn a great deal about a person or a place by the stories that they choose to tell.  For a long time the stories people have told about Buffalo were of a dying rust belt city with nothing left to give the world.  

But Buffalo is much more than rust and chicken wings and snow. And in recent years more and more people are showcasing the old and creating new, strong and beautiful stories about Buffalo.

Our goal, at No Illusions Tours is to add to those new stories by breaking down the history of Buffalo itself.

We seek to tell our city’s story through different voices from the past, from the Burning of Buffalo more than 200 years ago to new art and innovation from the last decade.

Our very first stories at No Illusions have been told through the voices of remarkable women who have lived and worked here, who have helped Buffalo and in many cases the rest of the world to grow, as they grew.  This series of tours, Buffalo's Favorite Daughters consists of three separate walking tours.  We also feature a walking tour that tells Buffalo's stories through the eyes of authors who have lived here, called Buffalo Lit, as well as two tours that tell our city's strange and unusual stories through tales of ghosts, true crime, and odd places, Buffalo Anomalies, in October each year.

No Illusions also works with other local companies to create unique tour and event experiences. For the past few years we've worked with Buffalo Bike Tours on special tour series on the waterfront as well as different versions of our regular tours by bike. We've also collaborated with Forest Lawn Cemetery on several special tours over the past two seasons. No Illusions has held tours and events that have benefited The Family Justice  Center of Erie County. We have also worked with Sobremesa Buffalo over the years to create many dinners, teas, and picnics based on historic recipes. 

I am also available for speaking engagements and can speak on a variety of topics about Buffalo and Western New York History. I've spoken at historical societies, social and charity clubs and more. Private tours can also be booked for tours of 5 or more any time of year. To book either a speaking event or private tour send me a message here.

We look forward to many more experiences telling the story of Buffalo's hidden past, dispelling the illusions about this area and lifting the city up by breaking it down.

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~Maria Blair

Owner, Operator