About · Our Story
A gift that became a community.
From a Victorian estate on Locust Street to Lockport’s home for arts, education, and recreation — the Kenan story is still unfolding.
The estate
Built for a family. Given to a city.
Visitors still walk the grounds of the 1800s Victorian mansion that belonged to William Rand Kenan, Jr. and his wife — brick paths, gardens, and a house that anchors campus life.
What began as a private estate became a public promise: arts, education, and recreation for Lockport and the wider Niagara region.
Timeline
From private estate to public campus.
Key moments that turned a Locust Street estate into one of Western New York’s most loved community centers.
1850s-1859
The house on the hill
The Victorian mansion takes shape on Locust Street, rebuilt after an early fire and finished as the landmark still recognized today.
1912
The Kenan years
William Rand Kenan, Jr. purchases the estate, invests in the grounds and house, and roots a philanthropic presence in Lockport.
1963-1965
A community vision
Mr. Kenan works with First Presbyterian Church on a plan for the acreage. He dies in 1965 before the Center opens, but the gift is set in motion.
1967-1969
Kenan Center begins
The Center forms and opens in 1967. The arena follows in 1968, and Taylor Theatre opens in 1969, building a campus for the whole community.
Today
Arts, education, recreation, still expanding
House Gallery, Taylor Theatre, ACRES outdoor programs, Montessori, and the new Civic Arena carry the same charge: enrich lives in Lockport, NY.
The campus
25 acres. Generations of Lockport.
What visitors feel walking the grounds is intentional: a place meant for neighbors, students, artists, athletes, and families — not a closed estate.
Be part of what comes next
The next chapter is already underway.
Support programs, visit campus, or explore the Civic Arena, which opened September 5, 2026, the newest expression of Kenan’s public mission.