The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, located in downtown Buffalo, is the only military park with museum ships within 100 miles of Buffalo, NY. The park has been open to the public since 1979 and has a large number of military equipment, vehicles, and ships. This park is a great destination for families interested in military history. The main attractions are 3 decommissioned naval vessels, The USS Little Rock, The USS Croaker, and the USS Sullivans.
My kids had so much fun touring the vessels. There was so much ground to cover and history to learn, much of it hands-on. While this might not be the best destination for small children, kids grade school age and up will really enjoy it. This museum is also located on the beautiful Buffalo Harbor. When you are done visiting the museum, you can take a stroll along the water.
The USS Little Rock-
A Cleveland-class cruiser, the USS Little Rock, is by far the most impressive of the vessels at The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. Commissioned in 1945, after the Second World War had ended, she did not see any wartime duty. Due to post-war cutbacks, she became part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in 1949. In 1950, the USS Little Rock was rebuilt and converted into a Galveston-class guided-missile cruiser. She was finally decommissioned in 1976 and brought to the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park.
The USS Croaker-
The USS Croaker is a Gato-class submarine named after a fish called a croaker that makes a throbbing or drumming noise. The USS Croaker was first commissioned in 1944, sailed out of Pearl Harbor, and completed 6 successful patrols of the Pacific Ocean during World War II. The USS Croaker was decommissioned in 1971 and was put on display at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park in 1988.
The USS Sullivans-
The USS Sullivans is definitely the most interesting of all the vessels present at The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, not because of the vessel’s specific history but because of the history behind the vessel’s name. The USS Sullivans was named in honor of the 5 Sullivan brothers who lost their lives in World War II on the USS Juneau in the Battle of Guadalcanal after it was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Because of the loss of all 5 of the sons in this family, the war department adopted the Sole Survivor Policy- hence the idea behind the movie Saving Private Ryan. This vessel was also the first to be named after more than one person. The USS Sullivans is a Fletcher-class Destroyer and saw service in both World War II and the Korean War. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was brought to The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in 1977.
Haunting of the USS Sullivans-
In addition to its fascinating history, The USS Sullivans is compelling because of its spooky reputation of being haunted. People have experienced strange paranormal phenomena on the ship over the years. The ghost is believed to be the eldest Sullivan brother, George, searching for his younger siblings. The ship has been featured on numerous TV saw featuring famous hauntings, including The History Channel show Haunted History, SYFY channel’s Ghost Hunters, and the Travel Channel’s Most Terrifying Places in America.
Other Military Equipment
There are a wide variety of other military equipment and vehicles at the park, including, but not limited to: a helicopter, an M-41 tank, an Air Force F101F Voodoo Fighter-Interceptor Jet, PTF-17, a P-39 Airacobra, and Navy FJ-4B Fury Jet. This is an enjoyable and educational place to visit. Families with children of all ages will get a lot out of this park. The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park is situated right on the harbor. The area is being revitalized and is really a beautiful spot to walk. There is a lovely lighthouse in this area as well.
Hours and Admission
Hours:
Open Daily from 10 am-5 pm (with the last ticket being sold at 4 pm.)
Helpful Links: http://buffalonavalpark.org/
Address: One Naval Park Cove
Buffalo, New York 14202