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
As the third-largest city in Pennsylvania and the state's only city situated directly on the Great Lakes, Erie boasts a waterfront rich in heritage. At its centerpiece is the U.S. Brig Niagara, the restored tall ship that served as Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship during the pivotal Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Now fully rigged and berthed at the Port of Erie, the Niagara stands as a majestic tribute to Erie's historic legacy and maritime pride.
From tourism to manufacturing, from a newly developed bayfront to revitalized neighborhoods, the city is experiencing dynamic growth. Presque Isle Park boasts thirteen miles of sandy beaches, and, according to National Geographic Magazine, we enjoy the world's second most beautiful sunset, surpassed only by those in Hawaii.
Erie is a mecca of educational, recreational, and cultural sites. They are justly proud of the institutions of higher learning: Behrend College at Penn State, Edinboro University, Gannon University, and Mercyhurst, a nationally ranked Liberal Arts college. An acclaimed Philharmonic Orchestra, an award-winning regional theater, a Civic Center that hosts a variety of sports and entertainment events, several local ballet companies, and a Maritime Museum, which shares space with the Blasco Public Library on the bayfront, are just a sample of what attracts thousands of visitors each year.
A new state-of-the-art ballpark resides in Erie's downtown and is home to the AA team, the Erie SeaWolves, and anchors much of the summer nightlife, which now includes a popular comedy club. "We Love Erie Days," an annual August celebration featuring major entertainers and a variety of ethnic foods, culminates in a spectacular fireworks display, drawing visitors by boat across Lake Erie from Canada.
Erie's location in a tri-state region and as an Interstate hub offers ease of access to larger cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Toronto, Canada, along with its port facilities. These intermodal transportation opportunities support a rich and diverse economic base. A city rich in diversity, boasting over twenty-three different ethnic populations, they are a very "neighbor-centered" city, and they embrace the richness these varied groups offer.
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.