Dunkirk is bordered on the north by Lake Erie. It shares a border with the Village of Fredonia to the south, and with the Town of Dunkirk to the east and west. Dunkirk is the westernmost city in the state of New York. Although it was officially incorporated in 1880, Dunkirk was first settled around 1805. You can delve into the local past of this city at the Dunkirk Historical Museum and its exhibits of clothing, toys, house goods, Civil War military ware and a genealogy room where you can browse and photograph old records. They also have quite a bit of railroad memorabilia. Located on the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk is the Alco-Brooks Railroad Display where you can see preserved locomotives of the era. Dunkirk and the northern part of Chautauqua County are the Concord Grape Capitol of the World.
Welch's Grape plant is just about 15 miles to the west of Dunkirk and all around Dunkirk are grape vineyards. Built in 1826, the lighthouse of The Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum still operates every night and is still intact inside. The lighthouse, which stands 61 feet high and played minor parts in the Civil War and WWII is on the registry for historical places in the U.S. The land is where some skirmishes in the War of 1812 took place. You can take a tour of the tower from the first floor (the keeper's house where nautical history exhibits and rooms show how the keeper and his family would have lived) to the second floor, which is the veterans’ museum. Coast Guard boats on display include a 45-foot buoy tender. After an active day of exploring this city near Lake Erie, you’ll have a convenient location to all the options when you stay at one of our Choice Hotels in Dunkirk, NY. Book a room online now!