Historic naval destroyer haunted by Sullivan brothers and military personnel
One Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY 14202
Research updated May 2026
Age
All ages
Cost
$$
Museum admission approximately $15-20 per person; annual memberships available
Access
Limited Access
Naval vessel with stairs, narrow corridors, metal decking
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1943 · World War II · Naval History · Sullivan Brothers Memorial · Cold War Service
The USS Sullivans holds unique significance in American naval history as a memorial to five brothers—George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Thomas Sullivan—who all served together on the USS Juneau and died together when the ship was sunk by Japanese torpedoes on November 13, 1942, in the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Uss The Sullivans (DD-537) was commissioned on September 21, 1943, specifically in honor of the five brothers. The Fletcher-class destroyer represented a new standard in naval design, armed with five 5-inch dual-purpose guns, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, and advanced fire-control systems. A crew of approximately 300 officers and enlisted personnel operated the ship.
From 1943 through 1945, USS Sullivans participated in multiple Pacific Theater operations including escort missions, convoy protection, and combat patrols. The destroyer's presence in the Pacific was part of the massive naval mobilization required to counter Japanese imperial expansion. During the Korean War (1950-1953), the ship again deployed for combat operations and shore bombardment missions.
Uss The Sullivans continued active service through the 1950s and into the 1960s, participating in NATO operations and training exercises. The destroyer was finally decommissioned on January 10, 1965, after 22 years of service. Rather than being scrapped, the Navy decided to preserve the vessel as a memorial and museum ship.
In 1977, USS Sullivans was transferred to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. The vessel underwent restoration and conversion to museum operation, with portions of the ship opened to public tours. Visitors can access engine rooms, combat information center, crew quarters, crew's mess, and command spaces, providing insight into the operational reality of Cold War-era naval service.
Sources
USS The Sullivans has developed a substantial paranormal reputation since its conversion to a museum vessel, with consistent reports of strange phenomena documented by caretakers, employees, and paranormal investigators. The haunting appears to involve multiple distinct entities, all connected to the ship's tragic history and the men who served aboard.
The primary reported entity is George Sullivan, the Sullivan brother who outlasted the others after the Juneau sank. All five Sullivan brothers died — Frank, Joe, and Matt were killed instantly when the ship went down on November 13, 1942; Al drowned the following day; George survived on a raft for four or five more days before delirium set in and he went over the side and disappeared. In paranormal lore the fact that George was the last to die and died alone, separated from his brothers, has made him the figure most often reported aboard the ship. His apparition is described as moving through the corridors with apparent purpose, as if searching compartments and spaces.
Additional apparitions are identified as crew members lost during the ship's service or the battles in which it participated. Shadow figures have been observed in engine rooms, crew quarters, and combat areas—spaces where crews of 300 performed their duties. The manifestations suggest a residual haunting: the imprint of daily routines and operational procedures replaying without conscious direction.
Paranormal investigators and ship caretakers document mechanical and electrical phenomena. Lights turn on and off without explanation, particularly in spaces with no human presence. Doors described as locked by the caretaker at night with the only key in his possession have been found unlocked the next morning. The caretaker has reportedly changed the lock mechanism multiple times, yet the phenomena persist.
Batteries drain rapidly on electronic equipment. Electronic equipment malfunctions, including radar and control panel systems powering up when powered down, or illuminating without power input. One notable incident documented a control panel activating and illuminating the darkness with a soft radar glow, only to power down completely when another crew member returned to verify the sighting.
The paranormal activity intensifies in specific areas: the combat information center where crew members died; engine rooms where sailors performed dangerous duties; and crew quarters where men lived and died. The activity is non-violent and non-threatening, suggesting spirits engaged in residual behavioral patterns or searching for resolution to unfinished business.
Uss Sullivans was featured on the Syfy series Ghost Hunters, which documented paranormal phenomena aboard the vessel and increased public awareness of the haunting.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Tour USS The Sullivans destroyer, the most actively haunted vessel at Buffalo Naval Park. Walk through engine rooms, combat information center, crew quarters, and command spaces. Observe radar and control panels, navigate narrow corridors, and explore the working environment of the ship's 300-person crew during World War II and the Korean War.
Explore the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, which includes three historic military vessels in addition to the USS Sullivans. The waterfront park provides context for Cold War naval history and World War II maritime operations.
View the USS Sullivans and other naval vessels from the waterfront area without boarding. The distinctive destroyer is visible from the Buffalo waterfront and provides a sense of the ship's scale and configuration.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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