Long before there were power craft, wooden boats relied on sail to transport them to various ports in both the United States and Canada. The Erie Maritime Museum in Erie, Pennsylvania examines the Age of Sail as it was seen during the War of 1812 onboard the US Brig Niagara.

The museum opened its doors May 21, 1998, as the newest museum of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. As the homeport of the U. S. Brig Niagara, the Erie Maritime Museum offers the story of the Niagara from the warship that won the battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 to the reconstructed flagship of Pennsylvania. A range of multi-media and interactive exhibits, coupled with lively interpretive programs illustrate and teach Niagara’s history, the history of the Lake Erie campaigns, and the region’s rich maritime heritage.

Housed in a former steam-powered electricity generating station, the building has been transformed into a museum. Within the main hall, a reconstruction of Perry’s first flagship the Lawrence – complete with mast, spars and rigging – fosters a hands-on learning exhibit in the ways of sail. Additional exhibits include:

• The War of 1812 – As America’s forgotten war, it takes a closer look at the battle of Lake Erie and its aftermath.
• Fighting Sail – An unprecedented “live fire” exhibit of the Lawrence recreates the horrific carnage inflicted upon both men and ships –, along with the foretop section of the square-rigger. It also illustrates living conditions aboard tall ships.
• Niagara Yesterday and Today – This exhibit examines the US Niagara’s three different reconstructions and how they interact with each other.
• USS Wolverine (nee Michigan) – This is the beginning of a future exhibit that examines the first iron hulled warship in the Navy, originally called the USS Michigan.
• US. Brig Niagara – When in homeport, the ship herself is berthed within yards of the museum. The US. Brig Niagara is a sailing reconstruction of the relief flagship that was used by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry during the second and crucial battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.
   

History

On September 10, 1813, Niagara led a fleet of 9 ships in defeating a British squadron of 6 vessels in the battle of Lake Erie. It was the first time in naval history that an entire British squadron was defeated and captured. The victory was pivotal in the war as it secured the Northwest Territory, gained control of Lake Erie and the United States’ northern borders and opened up supply lines.

Ship builders came to Erie’s remote location (a mere 500 inhabitants) from New York and Philadelphia. In February, 1813, Commodore Isaac Chauncery hired Noah Brown, a noted New York ship builder, to complete the Niagara, Lawrence and 4 other vessels.
In March 1813, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry took command overseeing the vessel’s completion. That August, the American squadron sailed to an advanced base at Put-in-Bay in western Lake Erie. For a month Perry trained his crew, watching the British at Fort Malden (Amherstberg), Ontario, at the mouth of the Detroit River.

Then on September10, 1813, six British vessels under Britain’s Commodore Robert Barclay fought Perry’s squadron near Put-in-Bay. In the early stages of the battle, Perry’s flagship Lawrence and her crew took most of the British fire and suffered great damage. More than 80% of the crew were killed or wounded.

In a final attempt at victory, Perry transferred to Niagara with his battle flag entitled “Don’t Give Up the Ship”. Perry then sailed to the lightly damaged Niagara through the British battle line, forcing Barclay to surrender his entire squadron. At the end of the battle, Perry sent Major General William Henry Harrison his classic message of victory: “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”

Following the War of 1812, Niagara was a stations ship in Erie serving as headquarters with offices, supplies, and a sick bay. In 1820, she was deliberately sunk in Misery Bay to be preserved for future use. Erie citizens raised and restored Niagara on the battle’s centennial (1913) for a grand tour of the Great Lakes. The Niagara has been completely rebuilt twice – 1913 and 1939 and in 1988-1990 the present ship was constructed under the leadership of Melbourne Smith.

Specifications and Materials

Niagara is a square-rigged, two-masted warship with eighteen carronades and two long guns. On the berthing deck are sleeping quarters for 42 officers and crew, storerooms, sail bin, and woodstove. Magazines for shot and gunpowder were stored in the hold below deck. She is123’ long at the rail cap and 110’8” at the load waterline with a sparred length of 198’.
Her keel, keelson and frames are laminated yellow pine. The hull and deck planking are Douglas fir. The masts and yards are also Douglas fir and laminated yellow pine. The sails are synthetic fiber and standard rigging is steel wire covered with polypropylene while the running rigging is Dacron polyester and manila.

She is piloted by Captain Walter Rybka, who was also the Master of the Elissa for the Texas Seaport Museum in Galveston, Texas. Rybka notes “My career has been divided between keeping traditional sailing vessels in operation and the preservation of historic vessels. Over the years of preservation work on numerous vessels for several museums, I have come to realize that the value of preserving anything lies in what it has to teach. What ships have to teach is best learned by sailing them.” If you are interested in learning about sailing vessels and would like to volunteer to crew during the summer months, contact the Flagship Niagara League at (814) 452-2744.
 

Sailing Museum

Since her commissioning as “Flagship of Pennsylvania” in 1990, Niagara has made summer voyages on the Great Lakes and eastern seaboards of the both the United States and Canada as a goodwill ambassador promoting the heritage of Pennsylvania.

During the summer of 2000 she traveled to Philadelphia, Annapolis, Washington D. C., Norfolk, Mystic, Newport, back to Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Halifax Nova Scotia, Quebec City, Montreal, and then back to Erie. During the summer of 2001, Niagara will be at the Erie Maritime Museum, but will tour the Great Lakes for several weeks. For 2002, she will again sail the Great Lakes for an extended voyage.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission administers the Erie Maritime Museum and the US Brig Niagara with support from the Flagship Niagara League. The Museum is located 150 East Front Street in Erie and can be reached at (814) 871-4596. Hours are: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, noon to 5:00 pm. They are closed Thanksgiving (US), Christmas and New Year’s Day. Ticket prices when the Niagara is in homeport: Adults $6.00, Seniors, $5.00, Youth $3.00, and Family $15.00. Ticket prices when the Niagara is underway: Adults $4.00, Seniors, $3.50, Youth $2.00, and Family $15.00. Visit them at their website at  www.brigniagara.org