Learn With Us
At the Erie Maritime Museum, we take immense pride in our commitment to educating visitors of all ages about the captivating history and significance of Erie’s maritime heritage. Through our diverse range of educational programs, we aim to inspire curiosity, foster a deeper understanding, and cultivate an appreciation for the rich maritime heritage of the region.
Quick Links
Basic Museum Tour:
Explore the Erie Maritime Museum with a guided tour of our gallery and, of course, Brig Niagara (when in port). The Erie Maritime Museum is enclosed in a repurposed power generating station and features 12,000 square feet of educational exhibits for all ages. Groups will be paired up with a highly trained guide or member of the Museum’s staff.
Price: $3 per student & $5 per adult
Length of Program: 1 to 1.5 hours
“Battlestations” Tour
For groups participating in “Battlestations”, you will be given the chance to go on a guided tour of our Museum and the Brig (when in port). In addition to this tour, you may select up to (3) learning stations. Each of our courses is written in accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Board of Education Academic Standards.
Price: $5 per student & $7 per adult
Length of Program: 2 to 3 hours
PLEASE NOTE: As we are a state-owned institution, we do not issue W-9 forms.
Options for our Battlestations programs (by recommended age level)
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o Scavenger Hunt: Can you locate all of the military-themed rubber ducks hidden throughout the Erie Maritime Museum? Explore our exhibits and see if you can spot them all!
o Arts and Crafts: The Erie Maritime Museum is your one-stop shop for all things arts and crafts. Make a lighthouse, ships, a signal flag necklace, and so much more!
o Museums and Me: What makes a Museum? Discover how museums came to be, and what makes up exhibits, and learn about collecting and keeping things safe for future generations.
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o A Sailor’s Life for Me: Have you ever wondered what it takes to join the Navy in 1813? Enlist in Perry’s crew by taking our enlistment questionnaire, and then get hands-on with reproduction items from the early American Navy with our award-winning “seabag” program.
o Mechanical Advantage: Learn about how the crew of US Brig Niagara can move massive sails, lift cannons, and our anchors with simple machines.
o Knot-Know-How: Discover several of the knots used aboard ships like Niagara. Learn simple techniques that mariners have used since the dawn of sailing like the “square/reef knot”, the “bowline”, and the “sheepshank”.
o Geography of the Great Lakes: Did you know that the Great Lakes are classified as Inland Seas? In this engaging course, we will plot all of the different states, provinces, and countries that border each of the Great Lakes.
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o A Sailor’s Life for Me: Have you ever wondered what it takes to join the Navy in 1813? Enlist in Perry’s crew by taking our enlistment questionnaire, and then get hands-on with reproduction items from the early American Navy with our award-winning “seabag” program.
o Mechanical Advantage: Learn about how the crew of US Brig Niagara can move massive sails, lift cannons, and our anchors with simple machines.
o Knot-Know-How: Discover several of the knots used aboard ships like Niagara. Learn simple techniques that mariners have used since the dawn of sailing like the “square/reef knot”, the “bowline”, and the “sheepshank”.
o Geography of the Great Lakes: Did you know that the Great Lakes are classified as Inland Seas? In this engaging course, we will plot all of the different states, provinces, and countries that border each of the Great Lakes. We will dive into the commerce history of the lakes and the movement of peoples and things across the centuries.
o Shipwrecks of the Lakes: Dive into the world of marine archaeology and discover how shipwrecks are surveyed and documented. Students will be able to plot shipwrecks in Lake Erie, read sonar imagery, and measure and sketch objects found at the bottom of our waters.
o Build-a-Fleet: This team-building Oregon Trail-style role-playing game puts you in the shoes of Daniel Dobbins, Noah Brown, and Oliver Hazard Perry in the winter of 1813 as you race to construct a fleet of warships. Students will learn leadership, communications, and the history of this crucial period in Erie’s history.
o Battle in a Box: Have you ever wondered how battles are planned and fought? Gather your forces and replay some of our region’s most important battles like Gettysburg, Germantown, and the Battle of Lake Erie. This group-based learning activity is made with inspiration from wargames and the Naval War College’s wargaming department, teaching students about leadership, communication, critical thinking, and public speaking.
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o A Sailor’s Life for Me: Have you ever wondered what it takes to join the Navy in 1813? Enlist in Perry’s crew by taking our enlistment questionnaire, and then get hands-on with reproduction items from the early American Navy with our award-winning “seabag” program.
o Mechanical Advantage: Learn about how the crew of US Brig Niagara can move massive sails, lift cannons, and our anchors with simple machines.
o Battle in a Box: Have you ever wondered how battles are planned and fought? Gather your forces and replay some of our region’s most important battles like Gettysburg, Germantown, and the Battle of Lake Erie. This group-based learning activity is made with inspiration from wargames and the Naval War College’s wargaming department, teaching students about leadership, communication, critical thinking, and public speaking.
o Historical Research: This course is designed to teach how museums can be used to assist with researching history. We will guide students through the lens of history with the help of primary and secondary source materials from our Museum’s collections.