HISTORY 

The Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park is a 501(c) (3) corporation and was formed and incorporated as an educational institution in the state of NY in 1976 from the New York State Board of Regents. In conjunction with the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park applied to the Department of the Navy for a decommissioned naval vessel.

Buffalo Naval ParkThe Navy agreed and donated to the City of Buffalo the destroyer USS THE SULLIVANS, designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1986 and the Guided Missile Cruiser USS Little Rock in 1977. The Park opened to the public in 1979.  The Park initially included a Visitors’ Center, which was constructed with Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency funding.  The Park acquired the WWII submarine USS Croaker (SSK-246) in 1989 and, in 2008, this submarine was added to the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places.  Due to the construction on the Inner Harbor project in 1999, the ships were moved to their current location in 2003.

In 2008 with funding by the Empire State Development Corporation, the Park expanded to an outside exhibit area and a new museum building and gift shop.   Over many years, the Park obtained many artifacts related to all branches of the Armed Forces. The Park’s collection today includes the three naval vessels, a X-Ron 1 Rotocycle Helicopter, Army M-41 tank, Marine M-84 Armored Personnel Carrier, UH1 “Huey” Helicopter, Air Force F-101F Voodoo Fighter Interceptor Jet, PTF-17 PT Boat Navy FJ-4B Fury Jet, and a P-39 Airacobra. In addition, there are extensive displays including Marine Corps memorabilia, Polish Armed Forces, Vietnam Veterans, models of military vehicles, and Western NY Medal of Honor Recipients.

OUR MISSION

To foster the development in the community of an appreciation of the US Armed Forces by promoting visits to the Park and by taking part in activities related directly or indirectly to military affairs (Honor Veterans).

To promote and foster an interest in historic Armed Forces artifacts of this nation (Inspire Citizens).