Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
{{short description|Military and naval museum in Buffalo, New York, US}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
| logo = Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park Logo.jpg
| image = U.S.S. Little Rock 6.jpg
| image_upright = 1.35
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|42.877639|-78.880978|region:US_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| established = July 4, 1979
| dissolved =
| location = Canalside, Buffalo, New York
| type =
| visitors =
| director =
| curator =
| publictransit = NFTA Metro Rail (Canalside)
| website = [http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/ Official Website]
}}
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, formerly known as The Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park, is a museum on the bank of the Buffalo River in Buffalo, New York. It is home to several decommissioned US Naval vessels, including the Cleveland-class cruiser {{USS|Little Rock|CG-4|6}}, the Fletcher-class destroyer {{USS|The Sullivans|DD-537|6}}, and the submarine {{USS|Croaker|SS-246|6}}. All three are open to the public for tours.
History
In 1976, the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency and the Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park requested the United States Department of the Navy supply a decommissioned naval vessel to construct a naval park.{{cite web|url=http://buffalonavalpark.org/about-us/|title=About Us|publisher=Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park|accessdate=17 February 2018}} The construction of the Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park (later named the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park) started in 1977. The park was opened to the public on July 4, 1979.{{cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2017/07/07/100-things-military-park/|title=100 Things: Visit ships at the Naval & Military Park – The Buffalo News|last=Goldman|first=Mary Kunz|date=July 7, 2017|publisher=The Buffalo News|accessdate=17 February 2018}} The Cleveland-class cruiser {{USS|Little Rock|CG-4|6}} and the Fletcher-class destroyer {{USS|The Sullivans|DD-537|6}} were part of the original display. In 1988, the Gato-class submarine {{USS|Croaker|SS-246|6}} was added. In 1989, Croaker underwent a refit. The ships in the park remain property of the United States Navy, which inspects them annually.
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. The park now abuts Buffalo's Canalside and the historic Commercial Slip within it.{{cite web|url=http://www.lockportjournal.com/opinion/columns/erie-canal-discovery-buffalo-s-inner-harbor/article_a7e617a4-594f-5ccd-9f7d-e4595f069a1b.html|title=ERIE CANAL DISCOVERY: Buffalo's Inner Harbor|date=September 5, 2008|publisher=Lockport Union-Sun & Journal|accessdate=17 February 2018}} New structures were added including a new museum, and the new Liberty Hound restaurant opened in the summer of 2012.
On December 16, 2017, {{USS|Little Rock|LCS-9}} was commissioned at the park alongside its namesake {{USS|Little Rock|CG-4}}. The commissioning was the first time a United States Naval vessel was commissioned alongside its namesake.{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/dec/15/events-wrapping-ahead-uss-little-rocks-commissioni/|title=Events wrapping up ahead of USS Little Rock's commissioning|publisher=The Associated Press|date=December 15, 2017|accessdate=17 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://wtop.com/national/2017/12/uss-little-rock-due-in-new-york-in-advance-of-commissioning/|title=USS Little Rock arrives in NY in advance of commissioning|date=December 4, 2017|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=17 February 2018}}
Displays
File:USS Boston Sub Sail.jpg of {{USS|Boston|SSN-703|6}} on display]]
Along with the ships, there are a variety of smaller vehicles, vessels, and aircraft are also on display at the park. These include the Gyrodyne 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, a Marine Corps M-84 armored personnel carrier, a UH-1 Huey flown in Vietnam, an Air Force F-101 Voodoo flown by the New York Air National Guard's 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, a Nasty-class PTF boat, the PTF-17{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonavalpark.org/exhibits/equipment/|title=Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park | Family Museum}} used by the Navy in Vietnam, a Navy FJ Fury (FJ-4) jet (equivalent to the Air Force's F-86 Sabre), and a USAAF P-39 Airacobra manufactured at Bell Aircraft in Buffalo which saw service in World War II.{{cite web|url=http://buffalonavalpark.org/exhibits/equipment/|title=Military equipment, vehicles and history in Buffalo, NY|publisher=Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park|accessdate=17 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725011400/http://buffalonavalpark.org/exhibits/equipment/|archive-date=25 July 2017|url-status=dead}} The sail and rudder of the submarine {{USS|Boston|SSN-703|6}} are also on display here.
The park is located in the Canalside District near the KeyBank Center and LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo. Hours vary by season, but the park is closed from December to March.{{cite web|url=http://buffalonavalpark.org/plan-your-visit/hours-admission/|title=Park hours and admission, Naval Museum Buffalo, NY|publisher=Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park|accessdate=17 February 2018}}
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References
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External links
{{Commons category|Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park}}
- [http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/ Official homepage of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park]
{{Buffalo, New York |state=collapsed}}
{{Protected areas of Erie County, New York}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park}}
Category:Military and war museums in New York (state)
Category:Maritime museums in New York (state)
Category:Naval museums in the United States
Category:Museums in Buffalo, New York
Category:Geography of Buffalo, New York