I go here a couple times a year in the summer.....mainly to bring nieces and nephews. Cheap and fun. The kids love it every single time. This is just one small piece of the waterfront puzzle.
They need to add some events to draw more people out....maybe family sleep over's in the ships. Beer/wine nights on the deck. Film/movie night......ect.
al-alo, as a fan of industrial-era buildings and infrastructure, I love what you call the Broadway Barns (now I know what to call that giant building). I was by there early one cold, sunny morning when some of the large doors were open and you could see inside. The vehicles working inside on the sand or salt piles had filled the inside with dust and steam from their exhaust, and the light streaming in through the windows in the monitor roof was playing off against the dust and the massive steel roof trusses - a stunning sight that I've never forgotten.
That building is in a neighborhood of lots of great and/or historic buildings: St. Mary's Lyceum, the Colored Musician's Club, the Nash House, the Michigan Street Baptist Church, the remains of Vine Street (one of Buffalo's first African-American Neighborhoods), etc. and has tremendous potential as part of a revitalized district. I couldn't agree more with everything you said about it - in and of itself, it might make an interesting subject for a BRO article.
now if you really wanted to get creative with the aircraft museum, lemme tell you about a place: the Broadway Barns!
whats that? old al-alo has really started to slip? well that may be true, but this has real possibilities. it started as an armory, converted into an arena now its a home for city plows.
although neutered, you can still see its past beauty. its just outside of downtown. its large. it could be an asset instead of an eyesore, and it could help foster the eastward development of downtown.
see: http://www.bisonshistory.com/broadway-auditorium.htm
tormaplf67, I believe that preservationist Chuck LaChiusa once "floated" a proposal (perhaps in a Buffalo News op-ed?) to convert the Aud to an aircraft museum. I personally think that would be a great use for that building and its vast interior space, and fit in well with the other waterfront attractions nearby.
actually, if you can get past any egress and life/safety issues, the DL&W terminal would be a ok venue.
im not too sure that financially its feasible. but the location could make sense. the train sheds are built to hold a much greater weight than those aluminum planes, and they are not as sensitive to temperature and heat variation (unlike art which can be greatly damaged by fluctuations). The head house/waiting area could be rebuilt providing additional space. it would be in close proximity to the military park.
of course, this particular area of the city has no real tie to aviation (actually there were some seaplanes in lake erie, but that is another story). and in that regard, it may not make a whole lot of contextual sense - since ships, barges, and rails dominated this area.
of course there is the major issue, the fate of the current NFTA facilities. they would be expensive to move. the proposed cobblestone loop could provide an opportunity for relocation.
hmmm, i think i just talked myself out of the idea. i think ill stick with the broadway barns.
I really like what they did suspending the aircrafts in the air --- awesome stuff! The cobblestone looks great. I can't wait to be able to walk on the Whipple bridge.
I was over at the site on Monday and the construction crew was installing large rocks around an electrical box. They look very similar to the cap wall on the Commerical Slip.
Finally this project is being complete - this is great!
Chris69, when does air and space musuem move to Buffalo? Shame for niagara falls.
The Niagara Falls Air & Space Museum will make a great addition to the Air & Naval Park. I cant wait until they move!
I took a walk down to the Naval Park on Saturday, after taking pictures of the Labatt Hockey tournament. This is going to be a great attraction. It will provide a wonderful walk up until you get near the Skyway.
I have read that the Air Museum in Niagara Falls will be re-locating to Buffalo. Could it go into the Aud? Yes I have heard that Bass Pro will go in there, but my gut is that Bass Pro is jerking us around. I am begining to think that this time the waterfront development is really going to take off, and it is going to a sought after location. Bass Pro and the like should be begging to be a part of this area.
Anyway the new Naval Park is very cool.
Wait a minute?! You mean to tell me that the inner harbor is being used as a naval museum? That does not conform with the history that took place there... the museum must be moved off our sacred ground!
i heard they ran into some fundraising issues. i wonder is this project on budget and schedule?
besides the large artifacts, will there be new exhibits to interpret these objects and place some context? im very interested in seeing their final project!
There used to be a great party on the war vessele dockd there, what happaned to that?
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