Pennsylvania State Flagship

United States Brig Niagara

Adopted on April 29, 1988.

The United States Brig Niagara was

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 US Brig Niagara

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.