Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
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| Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park | |
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| Established | July 4, 1979 |
| Website | http://www.buffalonavalpark.org |
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, formerly known as The Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park, is a museum on the shore of Lake Erie in Buffalo, New York. It is home to several decommissioned US Naval vessels, including the Cleveland-class cruiser USS Little Rock, the Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans, and the submarine USS Croaker. All three are open to the public for tours.
[edit] History
The construction of the Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park (later named the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park) was begun in 1977. The park was opened to the public on July 4, 1979. The Cleveland-class cruiser USS Little Rock, the Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans were part of the original display. In 1988 the submarine USS Croaker was added. In 1989 the Croaker underwent a refit.
The Park has gone through a few major changes in recent years. In 2003 the ships were moved slightly to the foot of Pearl and Main streets. New structures were added including a new museum, and a restaurant is scheduled to open in 2012.
[edit] Displays
Along with the ships, there are a variety of smaller vehicles, vessels, and aircraft are also on display at the park. These include a tiny X-Ron 1 Rotorcycle one-man helicopter used by the US Marine Corps in the late fifties and early sixties, an Army M41 Walker Bulldog tank used in the Korean War, a Marine M-84 Armored personnel carrier, a Huey flown in Vietnam, an Air Force F-101 Voodoo flown by the Air National Guard's 136th FIS, Niagara Falls ARS, a Trumpy-class Fast Patrol Craft, used in Vietnam, a Navy FJ Fury (FJ-4) jet (equivalent to the Air Force's F-86 Sabre), and a P-39 Airacobra manufactured at Bell Aircraft in Buffalo which saw service in World War II. The sail and rudder of the submarine USS Boston are also on display here.
The exhibits include:
Marine Corps Memorabilia World War I to Present,
Ex-POW Memorabilia, Contributions of African-Americans to Our Country's Military Heritage, Women in the Military, Polish Armed Forces, Destroyer Escort Sailors, Vietnam Veterans, Models of Military Aircraft World War II to Present, Western New York Medal of Honor Recipients, and more...
The park is located near the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo. Hours vary by season, but the park is closed from December to March.
[edit] External links
- Official homepage of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
- Polish Veterans Monument at Naval Park
- History of Buffalo: A Chronology 1977
Coordinates: 42°52′40″N 78°52′52″W / 42.877639°N 78.880978°W
