Buffalo Naval Park

Mess Call 2025
2025-07-12 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
July 11-12 is Mess Call at the Buffalo Naval Park! In partnership with the Military History Preservation Group, reenactors from across the United States will be gathering to bring the USS The Sullivans and USS Little Rock to life. The ship’s company will conduct general quarters and gunnery drills on USS The Sullivans. Period-correct food will be prepared from the U.S. Navy cookbook in the galley of USS Little Rock. This is an event history buffs and food fanatics alike will not want to miss!

Behind the Scenes Curator Tour
2025-07-13 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-14 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-24 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-24 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-31 13:00 - 15:00 and 4 more dates | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Join the Buffalo Naval and Military Park’s Curator and Director of Museum Collections, Shane Stephenson, for a special behind the scenes tour of USS Little Rock, the last remaining Cleveland-class cruiser in the world.
This tour will give an in-depth look at our ships as artifacts and highlight some of the challenges in preserving them for future generations. You’ll visit spaces aboard USS Little Rock and USS The Sullivans that are not available on any other tour.
Each tour will last approximately 2 hours and will be limited to 11 people. When touring most areas of the ship, visitors should expect to traverse narrow passageways, be able to step over significantly raised thresholds, and climb up and down very steep ladders. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, and bring a flashlight.
Due to the length of the tour and the spaces that will be visited, the Curator tour is for ages 11 and older.
Curator Tours will take place at 1:00 PM.
Click here to purchase your tickets!

Give 716
2025-07-15 19:16 - 2025-07-16 23:59 | NY
Give 716 is coming up on July 15-16! Starting at 7:16 PM on Tuesday, July 15, the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres Foundations will be providing matching grants and funds over the course of hours to local charities and nonprofit organizations who receive donations at www.give716.org.
This year, we are undertaking a major project to preserve USS Little Rock by painting the hull of the ship. This is a $15,000+ project that will require the purchase of a new paint barge and scaffolding, and at least 218 gallons of paint. We will be using a special marine-grade U.S. Navy-approved paint to cover 54,400 square feet of the ship’s hull. The paint is the only barrier between weather and steel, and is an important part of protecting the hull from the ravages of rust and corrosion; and contributes to the long-term sustainability of the ship.
In honor of the 80th Anniversary of USS Little Rock, we are asking for your help to contribute towards this project. Your $50 donation will buy 1 gallon of paint which will cover 250 square feet of USS Little Rock’s hull.

EC200 Speaker Series: John Montague
2025-07-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
John Montague, board member and founder of the Buffalo Maritime Center, will discuss the history of boats and boating on the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is presenting the 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration at Canalside in Buffalo, NY from Memorial Day through September. The EC200 Speaker Series will take place in the Buffalo Naval Park’s Hangar Building on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This series is co-sponsored by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park and The Buffalo History Museum.
Speakers will include subject matter experts regarding Buffalo’s Erie Canal heritage and those who were key in helping develop the Waterway of Change: Complex Legacies of the Erie Canal exhibit in the Longshed Building.

EC200 Speaker Series: Dr. Barbara Seals-Nevergold and Susan J. Eck
2025-08-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
Dr. Barbara Seals-Nevergold and Susan J. Eck will discuss the impact of the Erie Canal on Black Americans, abolitionism, and the Women’s Suffrage Movement.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is presenting the 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration at Canalside in Buffalo, NY from Memorial Day through September. The EC200 Speaker Series will take place in the Buffalo Naval Park’s Hangar Building on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This series is co-sponsored by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park and The Buffalo History Museum.
Speakers will include subject matter experts regarding Buffalo’s Erie Canal heritage and those who were key in helping develop the Waterway of Change: Complex Legacies of the Erie Canal exhibit in the Longshed Building.

EC200 Speaker Series: Erie Canal Boat Project
2025-08-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
The Buffalo Maritime Center will talk about the history and making of the full-sized replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief, which first traversed the Erie Canal upon its opening in 1825. This ambitious community boatbuilding initiative, brought to life by hundreds of volunteers, took place inside the Longshed at Canalside on Buffalo’s waterfront from October 2020 to June 2024 and will embark on the Bicentennial Voyage from Buffalo to New York Harbor on September 24, 2025.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is presenting the 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration at Canalside in Buffalo, NY from Memorial Day through September. The EC200 Speaker Series will take place in the Buffalo Naval Park’s Hangar Building on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This series is co-sponsored by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park and The Buffalo History Museum.
Speakers will include subject matter experts regarding Buffalo’s Erie Canal heritage and those who were key in helping develop the Waterway of Change: Complex Legacies of the Erie Canal exhibit in the Longshed Building.

Ship N' Shore
2025-08-21 17:30 - 20:30 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Save the date for the Buffalo Naval & Military Park’s biggest event of the year! Join us at 5:30 PM on Thursday, August 21 for a fun and memorable evening of food, drinks, and live music on the Buffalo Waterfront.
Guests will enjoy delicious food and beverages from some of the best establishments in Buffalo, listen to live music entertainment, participate in our basket raffle, silent auction, and 50/50 raffle to benefit the Naval Park, and enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting of our magnificent grounds and monuments garden.
This is a 21+ event and will take place rain or shine. Tickets are $85 in advance or $95 at the door. The food, drinks, and music are all included in the price of your ticket!
Each ticket purchased helps the Naval Park maintain our ships, artifacts, museum, and grounds, which all support our mission to Honor, Educate, Inspire, and Preserve.
Click here for additional information.

EC200 Speaker Series: Jennifer Rizzo-Choi
2025-08-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, Executive Director of the International Institute of Buffalo, will discuss the Erie Canal’s impact on immigration and refugee history in Buffalo.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is presenting the 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration at Canalside in Buffalo, NY from Memorial Day through September. The EC200 Speaker Series will take place in the Buffalo Naval Park’s Hangar Building on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This series is co-sponsored by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park and The Buffalo History Museum.
Speakers will include subject matter experts regarding Buffalo’s Erie Canal heritage and those who were key in helping develop the Waterway of Change: Complex Legacies of the Erie Canal exhibit in the Longshed Building.

Vietnam Welcome Home Living History Event
2025-08-30 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-31 10:00 - 16:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
The Black Lions 1st ID Vietnam Living History Group will be returning to the Buffalo Naval & Military Park this Labor Day weekend for a Vietnam living history event called “Vietnam Welcome Home.”They will be inside the red Hangar Building on Saturday, August 30 from 10 AM until 5 PM and Sunday, August 31 from 10 AM until 4 PM. Vietnam War Living Historians will be present with table displays designed to educate attendees on the uniforms, equipment and stories of the era.This event is free to the public and is a great opportunity to learn about the Vietnam War and to help support the Naval Park. Planned activities include table displays of military equipment and weapons, military vehicles, educational films and opportunities for Vietnam Veterans to speak.The Black Lions is a Living History group in the Western New York area that educates the public on the Vietnam War. The group concentrates on an impression of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment “Black Lions” B Company Rifle Squad in Vietnam during 1967-1969. The group utilizes hands-on displays of the uniforms, equipment, weapons and every day items carried and used by the “Big Red One” Infantry of the Vietnam War.

Fireboat Edward M. Cotter VIP Event
2025-09-06 09:00 - 11:30 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Join the Buffalo Naval Park and the Fireboat Edward M. Cotter Conservancy on Saturday, September 6, for a special VIP experience to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the E.M. Cotter’s arrival in Buffalo. The event will begin inside the Hangar Building at 9:00 AM with breakfast and a presentation on the Fireboat’s 125 years of service to Buffalo and Western New York. Guests will then watch the reenactment of the Fireboat E.M. Cotter’s arrival from a viewing area aboard USS Little Rock.
The VIP ticket includes admission to the Buffalo Naval Park for the day and a spot to view the Bills Mafia Boat Parade starting at 1:00 PM.

9:00 AM: Doors open in the Hangar Building and a continental breakfast is served
9:30 AM: Historic presentation of the Edward M. Cotter’s service to the City of Buffalo and surrounding watershed communities
10:30 AM: Move to the Little Rock Fantail for a VIP view of the festivities
11:00 AM: Reenactment of the arrival and escort of the Fireboat Edward M. Cotter
11:30 AM: Event ends; Guests may stay to take a self-guided tour of the Buffalo Naval Park
1:00 PM: As a bonus, guests are welcome to return to the Little Rock Fantail to watch the Bills Mafia Boat Parade

Closure Alert: 9/11 Day of Service
2025-09-11 10:00 - 17:00 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
9/11 Day of Service
Please be advised that the Naval Park SHIPS will be CLOSED on Thursday, September 11.
For the third year in a row, the Buffalo Naval Park will host its largest day of volunteerism on Thursday, September 11. National Grid employees will partake in day-long activities to kick off the 9/11 Day of Service, including welding, carpentry work, removing rust, running electrical wire, and painting the historic vessels.
They’ll be joined by staff from Highmark Inc. bringing the total number of volunteers to around 150. We are so grateful for their support and look forward to seeing all of the work they accomplish at the Naval Park.
The Buffalo Naval Park will host a 9/11 ceremony in the Hangar Building at 11:30 AM that is free and open to the public. The gift shop will remain open from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

RADM Robert E. Wirth at the Buffalo Naval Park
2025-09-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
The Buffalo Naval Park and the Western New York Council of the Navy League of the United States is proud to host Rear Admiral Robert E. Wirth, a native of Grand Island, NY, for two special presentations on Thursday, September 11.Currently serving as Commander, Submarine Group TEN, RADM Wirth has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and more.RADM Wirth will be the keynote speaker at the 9/11 Day of Remembrance Ceremony starting at 11:30 AM. At 4:00 PM, he will speak on the current and future state of the U.S. Navy. Both programs will take place at the Buffalo Naval Park’s Hangar Building and are free and open to the public.
*Please note that the ships will be closed to the public on September 11 due to the 9/11 Day of Service with volunteers participating from National Grid, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, M&T Bank, HARCAT Welding, and more.

EC200 Speaker Series: Melissa Parker Leonard
2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
Melissa Parker Leonard is the founder of 7th Gen Cultural Resources, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Indigenous history. She will discuss the Erie Canal’s impact on the Buffalo Creek Reservation and Seneca Indian Park.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is presenting the 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration at Canalside in Buffalo, NY from Memorial Day through September. The EC200 Speaker Series will take place in the Buffalo Naval Park’s Hangar Building on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This series is co-sponsored by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park and The Buffalo History Museum.
Speakers will include subject matter experts regarding Buffalo’s Erie Canal heritage and those who were key in helping develop the Waterway of Change: Complex Legacies of the Erie Canal exhibit in the Longshed Building.

Overnight Youth Encampment
2025-09-13 16:00 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Sat. September 13 @ 4:00 PM – Sun. September 14 @ 10:00 AM
Spend the night aboard USS Little Rock! Our overnight youth encampment is a unique adventure for scouts, youth groups, friends, and families.
During your overnight encampment, you will:
• Sleep in berthing compartments where the real Little Rock crew lived;
• Enjoy dinner and breakfast in the crew’s Mess Deck;
• Tour the USS Little Rock, USS The Sullivans, and USS Croaker;
• Participate in educational programs and activities to learn about life onboard ship (educational programs may vary).
Visit buffalonavalpark.org/overnight for additional information.

Overnight Youth Encampment
2025-09-20 16:00 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Sat. September 20 @ 4:00 PM – Sun. September 21 @ 10:00 AM
Spend the night aboard USS Little Rock! Our overnight youth encampment is a unique adventure for scouts, youth groups, friends, and families.
During your overnight encampment, you will:
• Sleep in berthing compartments where the real Little Rock crew lived;
• Enjoy dinner and breakfast in the crew’s Mess Deck;
• Tour the USS Little Rock, USS The Sullivans, and USS Croaker;
• Participate in educational programs and activities to learn about life onboard ship (educational programs may vary).
Visit buffalonavalpark.org/overnight for additional information.

EC200 Speaker Series: Rich Newberg and Tim Bohen
2025-09-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
Rich Newberg and Tim Bohen will conclude the EC200 Speaker Series with a presentation called “Charting the Course for Canalside: The Erie Canal Legacy Lives On.” They will discuss the development of Canalside, from the initial concept to the grand opening ceremonies. Learn about the history of the Canal District in Buffalo and the legacy of the grain scoopers to the launch of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief. Balladeer Stuart Shapiro will also perform a few numbers that finished first in Erie Canal original song writing competitions.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is presenting the 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration at Canalside in Buffalo, NY from Memorial Day through September. The EC200 Speaker Series will take place in the Buffalo Naval Park’s Hangar Building on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This series is co-sponsored by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park and The Buffalo History Museum.
Speakers will include subject matter experts regarding Buffalo’s Erie Canal heritage and those who were key in helping develop the Waterway of Change: Complex Legacies of the Erie Canal exhibit in the Longshed Building.

Historic Naval Ship Association (HNSA) Symposium and Maritime Heritage Conference
2025-09-24 - 2025-09-27 | NY
The Buffalo Naval Park is excited to host the Maritime Heritage Conference/Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA) Annual Symposium in Buffalo, NY this year. Join us on September 24–27 for a gathering of naval and maritime scholars and people from the world of maritime museums, historic lighthouses, tall ships for sail training and youth, small craft, marine art, sailing, advocacy, and more!
We look forward to seeing you there! #MHC2025

Overnight Youth Encampment
2025-09-27 16:00 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Sat. September 27 @ 4:00 PM – Sun. September 28 @ 10:00 AM
Spend the night aboard USS Little Rock! Our overnight youth encampment is a unique adventure for scouts, youth groups, friends, and families.
During your overnight encampment, you will:
• Sleep in berthing compartments where the real Little Rock crew lived;
• Enjoy dinner and breakfast in the crew’s Mess Deck;
• Tour the USS Little Rock, USS The Sullivans, and USS Croaker;
• Participate in educational programs and activities to learn about life onboard ship (educational programs may vary).
Visit buffalonavalpark.org/overnight for additional information.
