The Flagship Niagara League

THE MISSION OF THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA LEAGUE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM, IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, AND DOCUMENT AND INTERPRET, THE U.S. BRIG NIAGARA AND ITS ROLE IN THE LAKE ERIE CAMPAIGNS OF THE WAR OF 1812 AND THE MARITIME CONTRIBUTIONS OF ERIE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH

THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS TO PRESERVE ARTIFACTS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA, THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, THE WAR OF 1812 AND ERIE'S MARITIME HISTORY. THE LEAGUE PROVIDES GUIDES, FINANICAL AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE SHIP AND ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM TO PRESERVE THEM AS LIVING HISTORY EXHIBITS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. WHEN IN OTHER PORTS, THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA ALSO HAS A MISSION TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN ERIE AND PENNSYLVANIA.

IN COOPERATION WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORIC AND MUSEUM COMMISSIONS (PHMC), THE LEAGUE SUPPORTS THE ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM'S PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA'S SAILING PROGRAMS. THE ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM'S PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA AND THE WAR OF 1812 AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL ASPECTS OF ERIE'S MARITIME HISTORY. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE REGULAR VISITATION BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC; GUIDED TOURS THROUGH THE MUSEUM AND SHIP WHEN IN PORT; PROGRAMS SUCH AS LECTURES, MUSICAL EVENTS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS; SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENT AND TOUR GROUP NEEDS: AND EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AT LOCAL SCHOOLS. THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA'S SAILING PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT SAILING IN AN 1812 ERA WARSHIP, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO PHYSICAL SCIENCE, HISTORY AND THE ARTS AND EDUCATE VISITORS ABOUT ERIE AND PENNSYLVANIA'S TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES. NIAGARA'S "LIVE ABOARD" PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS HANDS-0N INSTRUCTION IN THE OPERATION AND SAILING OF A TWO MASTED EARLY 1800'S WARSHIP AND THE EXPERIENCE IS OFTEN UTILIZED BY ITS STUDENTS TO SECURE SEASONAL OR PERMANENT JOBS UPON SIMILAR SAILING VESSELS. THE NIAGARA'S HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CONSORTIUM PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN IMMENSE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY NOT ONLY SAILING, BUT ALSO PHYSICAL SCIENCE, HISTORY AND ARTS TOPICS-OFTEN FOR COLLEGE CREDITS. THE NIAGARA'S "DAY SAIL" PROGRAM (AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS SCHOOL GROUPS) IS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON SQUARE RIGGED SAILING TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS NIAGARA'S ROLE IN THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE AND THE WAR OF 1812. NIAGARA'S PORT VISITATION SCHEDULE ALLOWS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NIAGARA CREW TO EDUCATE VISITORS ON THE NIAGARA'S ROLE IN THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, THE WAR OF 1812 AND TO PROMOTE ERIE AND PENNSYLVANIA AS TOURIST DESTINATIONS. THE LEAGUE ADDED THE VESSEL LETTIE G. HOWARD TO ITS PROGRAMMING IN 2018 VIA A PROGRAMMATIC COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM. THE LETTIE G. HOWARD PROVIDES SAILING EXPERIENCES TO A BROADER AUDIENCE OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN AND HAS ALLOWED THE LEAGUE TO EXPAND ITS SAIL TRAINING AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO A BROADER GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

AS PART OF ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION, THE LEAGUE OPERATES A MUSEUM STORE WHICH SELLS CLOTHING, BOOKS, AND OTHER ITEMS RELATING TO THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA. ITEMS SOLD HELP GENERATE AWARENESS AND MAINTAIN INTEREST IN THE FLAGSHIP NIAGARA.