After three years of painstaking restoration, the U.S. Brig Niagara was finished in summer, 1990. Now, her wooden hull rides the waters of Lake Erie's Presque Isle Bay, her masts of Douglas fir rising more than 100 feet into the air, as she accommodates tours and awaits her next sailing mission to other ports as the Flagship of Pennsylvania and ambassador for the Erie area.
The Niagara is the tallest "tall ship" on the Great Lakes. The two-masted, square-rigged vessel, is the only remaining fighting ship of her kind from the War of 1812. She was part of a fleet built in Erie, and on September 10, 1813, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and the crew of the Niagara won the Battle of Lake Erie, bearing a flag with the words, Don't Give Up The Ship.
Niagara Important to Local, State and National Heritage
For the people of Erie, the reconstruction of the brig is reason to celebrate, and she is a part of the heritage not only of Erie, but that of the state and the nation. That is why she has been declared the Official Flagship of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Erie has been declared Flagship City.
The rebuilding of the Niagara was a $4 million project undertaken by the state historical commission. Under the direction of master ship designer and builder Melbourne Smith, reconstruction of the brig began in 1987. Early shipbuilding techniques were used, with nearly 100 pieces of the original vessel featured. On her berthing deck are the quarters for the crew, totaling about 155 in 1813. Today, her small professional crew is complemented by volunteers from the Flagship Niagara League from all walks of life.
The Niagara was re-commissioned in traditional naval fashion on Saturday, Aug. 18, 1990, during Erie's annual We Love Erie Days festival, following a three-year reconstruction and spectacular sea trials. Exclamations from people in an armada of pleasure boats following her during the sea trials included "thrilling," "breath-taking," "tremendous," "once-in-a-lifetime." The majestic ship, with sails billowing, was a beauty under full sail, traveling at 11 knots, leaving other sail boats behind.
The Niagara had its moment in history. It was a time when the world focused on the community of Erie. Today, she's become a symbol of the growing pride we have in this area as she re-focuses the world's eyes on the renaissance that Erie is experiencing.
During the 1991 maiden sailing year, Captain Walter P. Rybka, veteran tall ship captain from Galveston, Texas, took command of the ship. The Niagara sailed to Put-In-Bay, Ohio that September to take part in anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Lake Erie.
The Niagara participated in Operation Sail on the East Coast during the Summer of 1992, joining other tall ships commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. She visited the ports of Philadelphia, Annapolis, Baltimore, New York City, New London, Conn., Boston, Newport, R.I, Bath, Maine, the Canadian ports of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Gaspe, Quebec, Montreal and Toronto, and Rochester, N.Y., before returning home to Erie and a gala reception at the 17th annual We Love Erie Days.
Niagara Hosts "Tall Ships Erie" Festivals
During 1993, the Niagara made day sails every Sunday and Monday during the summer, and was open for tours the rest of the week. In September, the Niagara made a short voyage to Put-in-Bay, Sandusky and Cleveland, Ohio. On July 4, 1993, Erie hosted its first tall ships festival, Tall Ships Erie '93, with the Niagara joined by six other tallships. The festival featured a Parade of Ships on beautiful Presque Isle Bay, on-board ship tours, sea shanty singers, sailor competitions, historic reinactments and more.
Tall Ships Erie '94 hosted more than a dozen ships, some from as far away as Poland and Hawaii. The Niagara and other ships gathered first in Toronto, July 1 - 4, 1994, then sailed to Erie, passing through the Welland Canal, arriving July 8 for the festival, and departing on July 11. Niagara then visited various ports in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario, returning to port Erie for local tours Sept. 17 - Oct. 30, 1994, before being laid up for the winter. During Erie's Bicentennial Year of 1995, the Niagara stayed close to home for the many visitors that came to help the community celebrate its 200th birthday.
During the 1996 season, the Niagara returned to the East Coast through September, serving as Erie's and Pennsylvania's sailing ambassador.
The Niagara remained home for much of the summer of 1997available for tours Except on Sundays and Mondays when day sails were scheduled and short trips to Toronto and Port Dalhousie and to Put-In-Bay, Ohio, in Sept.
In 1998, the Niagara's berth moved a few hundred yards to the new Erie Maritime Museum, where it is beautifully on display when in port.
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