The historic Brig Niagara is welcoming visitors aboard this Fourth of July weekend, offering free admission and free deck tours as the Commonwealth’s flagship returns to Erie.
The ship arrived back in Erie on July 2 and will remain at the Erie Maritime Museum unless it departs for a scheduled voyage. Visitors can tour the vessel throughout the holiday weekend, with regular public tours available Wednesday through Sunday.
Recognized as the most historically accurate tall ship in North America, the Brig Niagara gives visitors a firsthand look at what life was like aboard an early 19th-century warship. The vessel serves as Pennsylvania’s official flagship and plays a prominent role in the Commonwealth’s America 250 celebrations, commemorating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Erie Maritime Museum officials say they hope Pennsylvanians take advantage of the opportunity to experience a piece of the state’s maritime history.
“People all over the Commonwealth, they go to work every day, they make money, and a portion of every dollar that they make and they are taxed on is going towards the care and maintenance of that ship, and I want people to feel as though that is their ship, and I take that very seriously,” said James Hall, site administrator for the Erie Maritime Museum.
Hall said the Brig Niagara belongs to all Pennsylvanians, encouraging visitors from across the Commonwealth to step aboard and experience the ship’s history for themselves while it’s docked in Erie.
For more information about Erie Maritime Museum admissions, you can visit the link below: