Erie Maritime Museum, Homeport U.S. Brig Niagara, 150 East Front Street. As the homeport of Pennsylvania's official flagship, the museum offers the story of the Niagara from the reconstruction of the warship that won the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.
Erie
Erie County, in the Northwest of Pennsylvania, lies within easy reach of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo. The County's economy balances industrial strength, especially in plastics, with a flourishing tourism sector.
At the heart of this is Presque Isle State Park, home to seven miles of sandy beaches and spectacular sunsets, as praised by National Geographic. Its bayfront invites exploration with historic attractions like the restored US Brig Niagara, a surviving warship from the War of 1812, along with a maritime museum and observation tower.
The region's deep historical roots surface in landmarks honoring Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's victory in the Battle of Lake Erie. Erie's lighthouses—the Presque Isle Lighthouse and Land Lighthouse—still cast light across Lake Erie, each with a storied 19th-century legacy. Covered bridges like the Gudgeonville Bridge, with its curious mule-naming folklore, add rustic charm to the County's pastoral landscape of vineyards, farmland, and wooded creeks.
Erie County also pulses with creative energy through the Erie Fund for the Arts, which supports a rich tapestry of cultural institutions including the Erie Philharmonic, Museums, ballet companies, theater troupes, and festivals—celebrating the County's commitment to heritage and artistic expression.
Museums
The Firefighters Historical Museum, Inc. is located at the corner of West 5th and Chestnut Streets in downtown Erie. The museum was founded in 1969, Incorporated in 1971 and opened to the public on May 3, l976.
Housed in a beautiful 1839 Greek Revival building located in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, this member-supported non-profit organization offers year-round programming which includes exhibitions, concerts, classes, workshops, guided tours, lectures, and special events.
The Watson-Curtze Mansion stands as a symbol of the upper class lifestyle of the 1890s in Erie. The Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The gallery offers art consultation and Fine Art Appraisal services for private, corporate, and public projects. Design, fabrication, and presentation of awards and gifts is another area of expertise.
Organizations
The Erie Planetarium is a division of the Erie County Historical Society which has over 500 members. Members receive free admission and benefits at all ECHS sites.
The Society houses historical archives for genealogical research and excellent folios on Harborcreek families, cemeteries and other history. The Society office includes a reference library and several items such as the cemetery list in quick access format on the computer.
Lake Shore Railway Historical Society is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors that meets monthly to conduct LSRHS business.Lake Shore Railway Historical Society's mission is to preserve, enjoy and share the memory, history and experience of railroading, particularly that of northwester
The West County Historical Association offers education programs that allow students to explore local history through lectures, stories, and hands-on activities. Students attending the programs will: