Buffalo Naval Park

Behind the Scenes Curator Tour
2024-08-15 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-16 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-23 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-30 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-31 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-09-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Halifax) and 9 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, while also getting an up close look at the main deck of PTF-17.
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, this tour is not recommended for those under 11 years of age.
Curator Tours will take place at 1:00 PM.
Click here to purchase your tickets!

Walk the Deck Tour
2024-08-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Learn about the history of the Buffalo Naval Park with Mike Casella, an experienced local tour guide. The Walk the Decks Tour, will begin with a 45-minute presentation on the history of the Buffalo Naval Park’s three WWII era vessels, how they arrived at the Buffalo Waterfront, and how the Naval Park was the catalyst for the development of Canalside.
After the presentation, you will walk the exterior decks to learn about the ships and submarine, their service history, and the functions of the equipment you’ll see up close. Bring your questions and learn more about life aboard ship.
Each tour will last approximately 90 minutes and will be limited to 15 people.
Before or after the tour, you can explore the ships, submarine, museum, and grounds on your own at your leisure.
*If you are interested in booking a guided tour that includes the interior spaces of the ships, please visit our Docent-Led Tours page. If you are interested in a school or group tour, please visit our Group Page or contact education@buffalonavalpark.org.

Baseball Family Day
2024-08-17 12:00 - 15:00 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Plan your visit to the Buffalo Naval Park on Saturday, August 17 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM for a special Baseball-themed Family Day to celebrate the new exhibition Battery Mates: Baseball in the Time of War.
There will be giveaways and a special appearance by Buster Bison from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Kids 12 and under will receive free admission if they wear a youth baseball/softball jersey.

Ship N' Shore
2024-08-22 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 22 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.
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.

Walk the Decks Tour
2024-08-23 14:00 - 15:30 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States

Vietnam Welcome Home Living History Event
2024-08-31 10:00 - 17:00 | 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 31 and Sunday, September 1 from 10 AM until 5 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.

Vietnam Welcome Home Living History Event
2024-09-01 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, September 2 from 10 AM until 5 PM and Sunday, September 3 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.

Closure Alert: 9/11 Day of Service
2024-09-11 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 Wednesday, September 11.
For the second year in a row, the Buffalo Naval Park will host its largest day of volunteerism on Wednesday, September 11. Around 120 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.

Overnight Youth Encampment
2024-09-21 16:00 - 2024-09-22 10:00, 2024-09-28 16:00 - 2024-09-29 10:00, 2024-10-05 16:00 - 2024-10-06 10:00, 2024-10-12 16:00 - 2024-10-13 10:00 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
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.

Goya brings Latin Flavor to Naval Park
2024-09-28 12:00 - 16:00 | Buffalo Naval Park: Hangar Building, 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
The Buffalo Naval & Military Park is excited to host representatives from Goya and the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY in the Hangar Building on Saturday, September 28 from 12:00-4:00 PM for an afternoon of food, music, art, dance, and more! It’s FREE and fun for the whole family.

LCDR Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Day
2024-10-19 11:00 - 14:00 | Buffalo Naval Park, United States
Celebrate LCDR Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s legacy and service at the Buffalo Naval & Military Park on Saturday, October 19. There will be activities and giveaways for kids from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, and the Buffalo Naval Park will offer “pay what you wish” admission.
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. (October 17, 1918-March 25, 2014) served as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was the commanding officer of the minesweeper USS Picket. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres and navigated the first ship into Tokyo Bay after the atomic bomb had been dropped.
He later became a successful businessman and is best known as the founder and 54-year owner of the Buffalo Bills. In 2017, his wife Mary Wilson generously donated her husband’s military uniform, medals, and letters he wrote to his dad while in service.
