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Pennsylvania Symbols, Flagship: US Brig Niagara
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United States Brig Niagara
Adopted on April 29, 1988.
The Niagara, under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, was decisive in the War of 1812. On September 10, 1813, it defeated a British squadron in the Battle of Lake Eric. The Niagara is displayed in Erie.
Erie, Pennsylvania takes great pride as the home of the US Brig Niagara. This reconstruction of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship in the battle of Lake Erie was completed in the summer of 1990, and since then Niagara has embarked on an ambitious program of sailing and historic interpretation. As an ambassador of Erie and the State of Pennsylvania, Niagara has visited numerous ports on the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Seaboard giving thousands of visitors an opportunity to share in this unique piece of history. When in port, Niagara is open for guided tours and has an active daysailing program.
After the War of 1812, Niagara was scuttled in Misery Bay within Erie Harbor. In 1913, the wreck of Niagara was brought up, and a ship was reconstructed upon her keel and a few other salvageable timbers.
Between 1933 and 1943, another complete reconstruction took place with the ship being placed on a permanent cradle out of the water. Masts and rigging were installed in 1963. By the mid 1980's, time had again taken its toll against the ship. The Niagara was closed to the public due to severe deterioration. In 1988, ship builder Melbourne Smith built a fourth Niagara. The present Niagara incorporates some original timber in non-structural areas.
SPECIFICATIONS
U.S. Brig Niagara
| The Niagara is a squared-rigged, two-masted warship originally armed with eighteen carronades and two long guns. On the berthing deck were sleeping quarters for the officers and crew, storerooms, sail bin, and a wood stove. Magazines for shot and gunpowder were stored in the hold below deck. |
| Sparred Length |
198 feet |
| Hull Length (along rail cap) |
123 feet |
| Hull Length (at load water line) |
110 feet, 8 inches |
| Molded Beam |
32 feet |
| Draft at Sternpost |
10 feet, 6 inches |
| Displacement |
297 long tons |
| Tons Burthen (old measure) |
492 60/95 tons |
| Mast Heights : Foremast (above water line) |
113 feet, 4 inches |
| Mast Heights : Mainmast (above water line) |
118 feet, 4 inches |
| Armament (1813) |
18 /32 Pound Carronades
2 /12 Pound Long Guns |
| Armament (1998) |
4 /32 Pound Carronades |
| Crew (1813) |
155 Officers and Men |
| Crew (1998) |
40 Officers and Sailors
20 Professional 20 Volunteers |
| Boats |
2 Cutters, 1 Yawl Boat |
The History of Niagara -- Learn something about the Battle of Lake Erie and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.
US Brig Niagara
Erie Maritime Museum
Bayview Commons Building
150 East Front Street in Erie, PA 16507
Phone: 814-452-BRIG
814-452-2744
Email: sail@brigniagara.org
§ 7.521. Commission of the ‘‘Flagship of Pennsylvania.''
On August 17, 1990, the United States Brig Niagara was placed in Commission as the ‘‘Flagship of Pennsylvania'' and its home port shall be Erie, Pennsylvania. In compliance with this section and 37 Pa.C.S. § 705 (relating to United States Brig Niagara), the Historical and Museum Commission is responsible for the United States Brig Niagara.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1071 Session of 1987
INTRODUCED BY DOMBROWSKI, CAPPABIANCA, BOYES, MERRY AND BOWSER,
APRIL 7, 1987
SENATOR WENGER, STATE GOVERNMENT, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED,
MARCH 22, 1988
AN ACT
1 Imposing powers and duties on the Pennsylvania Historical and
2 Museum Commission with respect to the observance of naval and
3 maritime history celebrations; ESTABLISHING AN OFFICIAL <--
4 ARBORETUM OF PENNSYLVANIA; establishing an official flagship
5 for the Commonwealth; and providing for interagency
6 cooperation.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Short title.
10 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Flagship of
11 Pennsylvania Act.
12 Section 2. Findings and declaration of policy.
13 It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of
14 legislative finding and policy that:
15 (1) Section 2801-A of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
16 No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, designates
17 the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as the
18 official agency of the Commonwealth for the conservation of
1 Pennsylvania's historic heritage.
2 (2) The commission holds in trust the UNITED STATES BRIG
3 NIAGARA at Erie, Pennsylvania. One of only three existing
4 early 19th century fighting ships of the United States Navy,
5 the UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is the only remaining ship of
6 its type from the War of 1812.
7 (3) The UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA serves today as a
8 memorial to the Americans who built and sailed a squadron of
9 warships so that the United States would remain free of
10 foreign domination. On September 10, 1813, this American
11 squadron of nine small ships, six of them constructed in the
12 settlement of Erie, defeated a six-ship British squadron in
13 the Battle of Lake Erie. This victory in the War of 1812
14 removed the British threat to the Northwest Territory, opened
15 supply lines and raised morale throughout an apprehensive and
16 divided nation.
17 (4) The UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is significant
18 because of its service during this engagement as Commodore
19 Oliver Hazard Perry's relief flagship after his original
20 flagship LAWRENCE had been disabled. Flying Perry's famous
21 "Don't Give Up The Ship" battle flag, the UNITED STATES BRIG
22 NIAGARA was brought quickly into the line of battle, forcing
23 the surrender of the British squadron. This event, marking
24 the only time in history that an entire British naval
25 squadron was captured, was reported by Perry in his letter
26 which began with the now-famous phrase, "We have met the
27 enemy and they are ours..."
28 (5) The UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is further
29 significant as being one of six ships constructed at Erie,
30 built largely of native Pennsylvania materials and sailed by
19870H1071B3019 - 2 -
1 Americans from various regions of what was the United States
2 in 1813.
3 (6) After the War of 1812, the UNITED STATES BRIG
4 NIAGARA remained in Erie as a station ship until 1820 when
5 she was scuttled in Misery Bay to preserve her for possible
6 future use. Her remains were raised in 1913 by a group of
7 Erie citizens and rebuilt for a grand tour of the Great Lakes
8 ports to celebrate the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie.
9 Since then, the Niagara has remained in Erie and, twice
10 refitted, has become a major tourist attraction in
11 northwestern Pennsylvania.
12 (7) In 1988, the commission will begin a third
13 restoration which will again return the UNITED STATES BRIG
14 NIAGARA to the waters of the Great Lakes.
15 Section 3. Establishment of official Flagship of Pennsylvania.
16 The restored UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is hereby designated
17 the official flagship for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It
18 shall be known as the Flagship of Pennsylvania and its home port
19 will be Erie, Pennsylvania.
20 Section 4. Powers and duties of commission.
21 The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission shall have
22 the following powers and duties:
23 (1) To cooperate with the Department of Military
24 Affairs, the Unites States Navy and other appropriate
25 organizations in commemorating significant events of our
26 naval and maritime heritage.
27 (2) To sail the UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA, within the
28 means at its command, to various ports of call and
29 commemorative events as the official sailing ambassador for
30 Pennsylvania.
19870H1071B3019 - 3 -
1 (3) To charge whatever fees are necessary to maintain
2 the vessel and to encourage private financial support as
3 appropriate in order to support the UNITED STATES BRIG
4 NIAGARA and its sailing program.
5 SECTION 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICIAL ARBORETUM OF PENNSYLVANIA. <--
6 THE MORRIS ARBORETUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH
7 IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IS LOCATED IN
8 PHILADELPHIA AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES AND CONSISTS OF 166 ACRES.
9 THE MORRIS ARBORETUM, WHICH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A UNIQUE
10 CULTURAL RESOURCE AND IS THE OLDEST, MOST EXTENSIVE CURATED
11 COLLECTION OF TREES AND SHRUBS CULTIVATED FOR SCIENTIFIC AND
12 EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FOR STUDY AND PROPAGATION IN THIS
13 COMMONWEALTH, IS HEREBY SELECTED, DESIGNATED AND ADOPTED AS THE
14 OFFICIAL ARBORETUM OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
15 Section 5 6. Cooperation with commission. <--
16 All Commonwealth agencies and public officials shall
17 cooperate fully with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
18 Commission in support of its naval and maritime history program
19 and, to that end, shall:
20 (1) Include the commission in any planning efforts for
21 the commemoration of significant events of our naval and
22 maritime history.
23 (2) Develop plans with the commission which will utilize
24 the UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA as the official flagship for
25 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
26 SECTION 7. ERECTION OF SIGNS. <--
27 THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES SHALL ERECT APPROPRIATE
28 SIGNS DESIGNATING THE MORRIS ARBORETUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
29 PENNSYLVANIA AS THE OFFICIAL ARBORETUM OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
30 PENNSYLVANIA.
19870H1071B3019 - 4 -
1 Section 8. Effective date. <--
2 This act shall take effect immediately.
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