National Register of Historic Places

U.S.S. NIAGARA

Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
Listed
April 10, 1973
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001628

About this property

USS Niagara, commonly called the U.S. Brig Niagara or the Flagship Niagara, is a wooden-hulled snow-brig that served as the relief flagship for Oliver Hazard Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. As the ship is certified for sail training by the United States Coast Guard, she is also designated SSV Niagara. Niagara is usually docked behind the Erie Maritime Museum in downtown Erie in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania as an outdoor exhibit for the museum. She also often travels the Great Lakes during the summer, serving as an ambassador of Pennsylvania when not docked. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was designated the official state ship of Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1988. Niagara was constructed from 1812 to 1813 to protect the vulnerable American coastline on Lake Erie from the British and played a pivotal role in the battle for the lake. Along with most warships that served in the war, Niagara was sunk for preservation on Presque Isle in 1820. Raised in 1913, it was rebuilt for the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie. After deteriorating, the restoration of Niagara was started again in the 1930s, but was hampered by the lack of funds caused by the Great Depression and remained uncompleted until 1963. A more extensive restoration was carried out in 1988 in which much of the original ship was largely destroyed. The incorporation of new materials and modern equipment makes it ambiguous as to whether it is or is not a replica.

Location

Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
42.13531, -80.08950

Categories

MILITARYMARITIME HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Dickson Tavern
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Modern Tool Company
Modern
0.2 mi
Hamot, Pierre S. V., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Cashiers House and Coach House (Boundary Increase)
Industrial
0.3 mi
West Park Place
Listed
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was U.S.S. NIAGARA listed on the National Register?

U.S.S. NIAGARA was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1973.

What type of historic resource is U.S.S. NIAGARA?

U.S.S. NIAGARA is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for U.S.S. NIAGARA?

The period of significance for U.S.S. NIAGARA is recorded as the industrial era.

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