Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park

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 (CG-4), the Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537), and the submarine USS Croaker (SS-246). All three are open to the public for tours.

History
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. The Cleveland-class cruiser USS Little Rock (CG-4), the Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537) were part of the original display. In 1988 the Gato-class submarine USS Croaker (SS-246) 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. A new synergy has come to Buffalo's Waterfront, known as Canalside, and the Naval Park abuts the historic Commercial Slip. New structures were added including a new museum, and the new Liberty Hound restaurant opened in the summer of 2012.

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 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 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 USAAF 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 (SSN-703) 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.