Buffalo and Erie County Military Park Update
I remember that the October 2006 tour that I took was very early on in the progress of the Inner Harbor development. If you go to that link, be sure to click on the slide show that depicts exactly what the site looked like at that time. At that point, the Whipple Truss Bridge was still under construction (off site), though the new Naval Museum was being erected (no bricks yet). Since that time the military vehicles have found a home just outside the entranceway to the museum.
I called over to the Naval Park and spoke with Office Manager Anita Barill about the latest additions to the park. "The P39 aircraft, currently hanging from the museum ceiling, was built in Buffalo,” she told me.
“The aircraft that you see with the blue pedestals are going to be our outside exhibit area. Soon there will a permanent fence there, as we are counting on the attraction as just one more benefit to admission. The helicopter was based at the Niagara Falls airbase, as was the Voodoo jet, flown by the Rainbow Squadron. The new museum will be opening to the public on March 28th and will remain open seven days a week until the end of October (let's hope that Higgins and Brown talk to them about a year 'round program). The new museum does not have a name yet. There will be overnight encampment programs and facilities for private parties in the new museum and on the Little Rock ship."
For more information on the Naval Park, visit their website.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
Avant Almost Fully-Skinned
The metamorphosis of the former Dulski federal building, rechristened Avant, continues as the final pieces of glass façade are going up on the 15-story structure. The $80 million conversion of the building into a mix of office, hotel and residential space is expected to be complete early next year. UniQuest, a joint venture consisting of Uniland Development Company and Acquest Development is project developer.- Today, 12:45am
- Continue Reading
- 1 Comments
-
Mobility Across the Ages at Buffalo Central Terminal Saturday
Back in the day before international airports and interstate highways, the Central Terminal was Buffalo’s gateway to the world. But in a turn of events scarcely imaginable to the generation that built the Terminal, passenger rail service is now a ghost of its former self—chronically late, infrequent, and boarded from sheds either miles away in Depew, or cowering hidden at the feet of the expressway downtown. Now, in a post-modern era of skyrocketing gas prices, re-urbanizati … - Today, 12:00am
- Continue Reading
- 2 Comments
-
ECHDC Awards Aud Demo Contract, Names Interim President
Ontario Specialty Contracting Inc.(OSC) has been chosen by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors to perform demolition on the Memorial Auditorium. The ECHDC authorized a nearly $1.5M contract with the Buffalo-based firm, the lowest bidders for the demo out of 11 companies.
In addition, OSC will grind the concrete for reuse, rather than simply disposing of it.
The demolition contract directs OSC to carry out the work within a 5-month window … - Yesterday, 4:10pm
- Continue Reading
- 6 Comments
-
Half & Half Trading Co.
Debbie Sidel opened the door of Half & Half Trading Co. at the age of 22. Now, even after 35 years of business, Debbie has not lost an ounce of enthusiasm for her role as owner of the little boutique.
Debbie has dressed generations of women in Buffalo. “Sometimes three different generations of women will walk in, a girl, her mother, and the grandmother, and they can all find something they like!” Debbie said. “I started out dressing college kids, then, as they grew up, … - Yesterday, 8:54am
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
Comment Options
scooter
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.
Report this
gaustad
There used to be a great party on the war vessele dockd there, what happaned to that?
Report this
al-alo
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!
Report this
TBone
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!
Report this
tormaplf67
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.
Report this
Joshua
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!
Report this
Dan
But ... what does this have to do with pond hockey?
Report this
RaChaCha
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.
Report this
al-alo
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
Report this
RaChaCha
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.
Report this
al-alo
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.
Report this
chris69
The Niagara Falls Air & Space Museum will make a great addition to the Air & Naval Park. I cant wait until they move!
Report this
RisingDamp666
I just hope this museum doesn't bomb.
Report this
gaustad
Chris69, when does air and space musuem move to Buffalo? Shame for niagara falls.
Report this
BROKEEPSBLOCKINGME
hhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Report this