| Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park | |
|---|---|
| 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.
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 Naval Park recently sent a letter to all members asking for immediate donations to assist in keeping the park open. The letter claims that due to budgetary reasons, its funding has been eliminated and that it needs money to stay open.
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 park is located near the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo. Hours vary by season, but the park is closed from December to March.