The Michigan Street Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York was founded in 1837. The Church itself is located on Michigan Avenue. The First Baptist Church member Elisha Tucker was the first to propose that a Baptist organization for Blacks be created. But, the 13 members of the congregation believing in it were dismissed from the church. They determined that they should build their own church. Unfortunately, funding was very little and it would take until the fifth pastor, Reverend Samuel Davis, before the church building would be built.
As a mason himself, Davis did much of the work himself. In 1845 the cornerstone was laid for the church. Davis would spend half of his time building the church and the other half administering to his congregation. It would take four years for the building to be ready.
The congregation was a very large one, and did well until many of its more prominent members left during the California Gold Rush in the hopes of striking it rich. Later, it would serve as a stop on the Underground Railroad during the years just before the Civil War. Slaves would be hidden within the basement of the church prior to being sent along the Niagara River into Canada during the middle of the night.
Visitors are welcome to visit the church, but restoration work is currently happening there. The Church was put onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1874 and has always been a historical location to those that live in the area.
