A new arch is being erected over Michigan Street to commemorate the contributions of African Americans to Buffalo. The groundbreaking took place Thursday afternoon, and the project is scheduled to finish construction in the Spring of 2019.
The arch was designed by artist Valeria Cray, who put careful consideration into the symbolism that would be represented with the arch.
"The symbols stand for people crossing out of slavery into freedom", she told 2 On Your Side.
"The whole archway itself stands for hope, peace, and no one should be bound at any time. No matter what color or creed you are," Cray continued.
The design also features a family including a woman carrying a baby. That image, Cray says, symbolizes the life women create through childbirth. The baby, she says, is born free.
The arch is estimated to cost a total of $322,000. The groundbreaking comes more than a year after the initial proposal and aims to bring more attention to the African American Heritage Corridor.