Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park

Infobox Museum
name = Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park

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established = July 4, 1979
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website = [http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/ Official homepage of the 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|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

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|CG-4|6, the Fletcher-class destroyer USS|The Sullivans|DD-537|6 were part of the original display. In 1988 the submarine USS|Croaker|SS-246|6 was added. In 1989 the "Croaker" underwent a refit.

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, more commonly known as a Swift boat, 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|SSN-703|6 are also on display here.

The park is located near the HSBC arena in downtown Buffalo. Hours vary by season, but the park is closed from December to March.

Photos

External links

* [http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/ Official homepage of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park]
* [http://www.classicbuffalo.com/spk.htm Polish Veterans Monument at Naval Park]
* [http://freenet.buffalo.edu/bah/h/1985.html#1971 History of Buffalo: A Chronology 1977]