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Photo: Buertalia, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation owns and operates this wildlife reserve that consists of 235 acres (95 ha) of low, swampy land at the southern edge of the town, a bit more than a mile (about 2 km) southwest of Clarence Hollow. A variety of habitats—including cattail marsh, open water, and mature hardwood forest—are home to such local wildlife as beaver, raccoons, white-tailed deer, muskrats, turtles, and seven species of frog. Birdwatchers can expect to see Canada geese, herons, hawks, and ducks. Visitors can enjoy strolling along the boardwalk or the self-guided nature trail that takes in the southern portion of the reserve, or tackle two hiking trails further off the beaten path. Fishing is permitted in some areas.
Tillman Road Wildlife Management Area is a 235-acre (0.95 km2) conservation area located within the Town of Clarence in Erie County, western New York. It is managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
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Housed in a charming old Greek Revival-style church in Clarence Hollow that was built in 1844, this society has been enlightening visitors on the topic of the town's history since its opening in 1994. Exhibits here include a gamut of historical artifacts that bring to life the prominent individuals, community institutions, and daily life of the town in bygone days. However, the pride and joy of the society is the original pioneer log cabin built in 1815 at the rear of the museum building, and the Greatbatch Exhibit, which pays homage to Dr. Wilson Greatbatch, the Clarence native who was the inventor of the implantable cardiac pacemaker (and whose charitable fund was responsible for the foundation of the museum). This exhibition encompasses biographical information as well as many of Dr. Greatbatch's original laboratory tools and early prototypes of the invention that earned him international renown.
Located next door to the Asa Ransom House in Clarence Hollow, the museum is a diminutive but charming institution where John Zavrel houses his impressive collection of original works by such luminaries of European art as Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, and Jean Carzou. Adjacent to the museum building is the Alexander Garden, a sculpture garden named after the marble bust of Alexander the Great that serves as its centerpiece. Travelling exhibits, lectures, and symposia are held on an occasional basis. Unique limited-edition lithographs and bronze sculptures are for sale at the gift shop.
A lovely, 14-acre (5.7 ha) oasis of nature at the base of the Onondaga Escarpment, a rocky ledge that runs west-to-east through Clarence and is some 60 feet (18 m) in height here. Walking trails wind serenely through the landscape, with a viewing platform that offers breathtaking views of the forests, wetlands, ponds, and cliff.
On a tract of 18 acres (7.3 ha) at the north end of the Town Hall complex, on Goodrich Rd just south of Roll Rd near Clarence Center. Conceived in 2002, several years after Dutch elm disease and the installation of a new sewer line required many of the trees in this area to be cut down, the Arboretum now contains over a hundred trees representing dozens of native species, including rarities like the American Chestnut. Walking paths traverse a verdant setting, winding alongside two ponds, over a charming footbridge, and past a restored stone wall.