"NIAGARA 2000" WILL CARRY TALL SHIP TO 12 NORTHEASTERN TOWNS
 by Carl DeFebo

After spending the winter at the Independence Seaport Museum at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, the U.S. Brig Niagara in May embarked on the final leg of a 10-month, East Coast voyage that started last fall. The vessel — victorious in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 — is scheduled to visit 12 American and Canadian port cities between May and August this year, including a June 23-28 stopover in Philadelphia. It will return to its homeport in Erie Aug. 25 amid a huge celebration at the Erie Maritime Museum.

"The Niagara tours the East Coast every four years," said Rick Liebel, spokesman for the Erie Maritime Museum. "This is a special millennium voyage dubbed ‘Niagara 2000’ during which she will be joined by tall ships from all over the world at several of the ports on her itinerary."

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and First Lady Michele Ridge are honorary chairs of Niagara 2000. Hailing from the Niagara’s home port of Erie, Gov. and Mrs. Ridge have a keen interest in the ship as ambassador for Pennsylvania and as a means of communicating the rich history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Gov. Ridge said that the vessel has an important function in educating the public about Pennsylvania's role in the War of 1812.

"While she is in port, Niagara delights visitors with her sleek bow and lofty sails and teaches them about Pennsylvania and the War of 1812," Gov. Ridge said. "We're confident that visitors to the ship will come away with a sense of excitement about Pennsylvania history."

The Niagara served in the battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The tall ship led a fleet of ships in defeating a British squadron. The present Niagara -- a reconstruction of the original vessel -- was launched in 1988 and given the title of Flagship of the Commonwealth by legislative action.

Niagara will visit the ports of Annapolis, Md., Washington D.C., Norfolk, Va., Mystic, Conn., Newport, R.I., Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Then, she will continue on to Halifax, Nova Scotia; Quebec City, Canada; and Montreal, Canada, before she reaches her final destination back home in Erie.

During this millennial voyage, the ship will be open to public visitation 44 days with 75,000 plus to visit on board and 200,000 people visiting dockside.

The U.S. Brig Niagara’s journey is being underwritten by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which provides 70 percent of the roughly $1 million budget for the ship and voyage.

"Niagara 2000 is one of the most exciting programs of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission," said PHMC Executive Director Dr. Brent Glass. "It’s our chance to send our goodwill ambassador, Pennsylvania’s Flagship, to visit neighboring states and provinces."

Corporate and other state agencies are contributing 25 percent of voyage expenses, and the Flagship Niagara League is raising the remaining 5 percent of funds through local sponsorships. Sponsors of Niagara 2000 are: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Center for Travel, Tourism and Film Promotion; U.S. Brig Niagara; GPU Inc.; Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau; Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation; Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission; PennPORTS; and the Rhode Island Historical Society.

This is the third voyage for Niagara to the East Coast since her reconstruction in 1988.

During her Niagara 2000 voyage, she will honor the class of 2000 of the United State Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. She will also celebrate July 4 with other ships from around the world in New York City, and sail in an international event called TallShips 2000 in Boston.

She is expected to return to her homeport at the Erie Maritime Museum on Aug. 25.

For voyage updates and information about Niagara or the Erie Maritime Museum log on to their web site www.brigniagara.org.

NIAGARA HISTORY

The Niagara served as the relief flagship used by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry during the second and crucial battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. The tall ship led a fleet of nine ships in defeating a British squadron of six vessels in the battle of Lake Erie.

The battle on Sept. 10, 1813 marked the first time in naval history that an entire British squadron had been defeated.

It was Perry who penned the famous report of victory, "We have met the enemy and they are ours…" after the defeat of the British squadron.

At the time the Niagara was built, Erie was a remote town with just 500 residents. To construct the squadron, experienced shipbuilders and supplies were brought in from outside of Erie. Construction began in 1812 and a year later, Perry came aboard to oversee the final stages.

Niagara is a reconstruction of the original vessel. The present Niagara was launched in 1988 and given the title of Flagship of the Commonwealth by legislative action. Niagara’s homeport is at the Erie Maritime Museum, Erie Pennsylvania.
 

"NIAGARA 2000"
Voyage Itinerary
May 1-15 Open for visitation in Philadelphia
May 19-21  Annapolis, Maryland
May 26-28  Washington, D.C.
June 1-4  Norfolk, Virginia
June 10-11  Mystic, Connecticut
 June 16-17 Newport, Rhode Island
June 23-28 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 4-9 New York, New York
July 14-15   Boston, Massachusetts
July 21-23 Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 10-12 Quebec City, Quebec
August 14-15 Montreal, Quebec
August 26  Return to Homeport, Erie Maritime Museum
   

NIAGARA 2000 VOYAGE BEGINS
Join our Governor and First Lady in celebrating
historic ship's journey
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and First Lady Michele Ridge are honorary chairs of  Niagara 2000. Hailing from the Niagara's
homeport of Erie, Gov. and Mrs. Ridge have a keen interest in the ship as ambassador for Pennsylvania and as a means of communicating the rich history of the Commonwealth. The vessel recently embarked on a special millennial voyage.

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