Flagship Niagara Patch Tour for Scouts

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts alike will enjoy this special tour of the Erie Maritime Museum. Tour packet includes admission to the Erie Maritime Museum and guided tour of US Brig Niagara (subject to availability), a museum scavenger hunt, a special activities packet to take home, and a very special US Brig Niagara patch.

The War of 1812 – Living History

For Middle School and High School students who already have a background in regional history or the history of the War of 1812, this Erie Maritime Museum field trip program allows students to experience aspects of the life of a sailor in Perry’s fleet. Students have hands-on opportunities to drill on the 32 pdr carronade, set the sail, and learn to tie basic knots as part of their museum experience. Units on sailors’ diet, clothing, and language are also available.

By arrangement, minimum 4 hours necessary, 5 – 6 hours recommended. Includes guided tour of US Brig Niagara and time to explore exhibit hall. Please call the Museum Education Line at (814) 452-2744 ext 219 for scheduling availability and program fees.

Guide Training

The Erie Maritime Museum and the US Brig Niagara has a dedicated crew of Volunteer Guides who are most often the first point of contact with all of our visitors. Guides greet all museum guests, facilitate their visits in many ways, and provide answers and information on the exhibits, as well as conduct the guided tours of Niagara. Guides are also an important part of facilitating school and tourist groups who visit.

Museum volunteers can sign on to guide for a regular 4 hours shift every week, or request to be called for special events and groups.

Guide training generally takes place January through March by scheduled informative lectures, and year ‘round by new volunteers teaming with experienced guides and learning by shadowing them.

The Erie Maritime Museum Library is also available for guides to research their presentations.

To become a volunteer guide, or to learn when guide training programs are being offered, please call (814) 452-2744 ext 214.Click Here for Schedule

Winter Sail Training

If you're age 16 or over, and interested in preserving history, sailing, or the great outdoors, then you’ll feel right at home aboard the US Brig Niagara!  New volunteers are invited to join our well-trained volunteer crew to help maintain and learn to sail the ship. Niagara volunteers form an invaluable part of the ship’s sailing crew each summer. You will receive instruction during our winter sail training sessions. Once you have learned the basics of sailing Niagara, you’ll be relied upon as crew and to help share your knowledge with new volunteers and trainees as they join the ship. This process of sharing knowledge is the foundation of the shipboard community.
Click Here For Schedule

Continuing Credit Programs for Educators

The Erie Maritime Museum and the US Brig Niagara have offered annual two-day summer continuing education courses for educators, in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit. Act 48 Credit for these courses may be available through the partnering organization.

To receive information about the next Continuing Credit Program, please call the Museum Education Line at (814) 452-2744 ext 219 and leave contact information. You will be notified of our next offerings when available for registration.

Group Tours

The Erie Maritime Museum and the Flagship Niagara welcomes scheduled group tours and excursions. Group tours of all kinds must be booked in advance to receive the special reduced Group Rate admission of $7.00.

Please call (814) 452-2744 ext 214 to check availability and schedule your group.

School Tours

The Erie Maritime Museum and the US Brig Niagara welcome school groups of all ages! To receive the special school rate, groups must be scheduled in advance. Reduced school group rates are as follows:

$3.00 per student
FREE, one teacher/chaperone for each ten students
$7.00 per adult, for those above the free teacher/chaperones (1 to 10)

Please call (814) 452-2744 ext 214 to check availability and schedule your school group.

Cub Scouts, Ahoy!

In the course of this two-hour program, your Cub Scout group will complete all necessary activities to earn the Tying It Up badge:

• Tie a square knot, bowline, sheet bend, two half hitches, and a slip knot, and learn how each knot is used.
• Whip the ends of a rope, using simple whipping.
• Learn how to keep a rope from tangling, and coil a rope.
• Throw a rope and hit a two-foot square target twenty feet away.

Program fee includes admission to the Erie Maritime Museum following the program, and Cub Scouts also receive the US Brig Niagara patch.

By arrangement, for more information, please call the Museum Education Line at (814) 452-2744 ext 219. $10.00 program fee per Cub Scout includes all supplies needed as well as instruction by museum docents for knot-tying badge as specified by the Boys Scouts of America, US Brig Niagara patch, instructional materials packet for knot-tying to take home, and museum admission. One Den Leader (required) has free admission with group; other accompanying adults admitted at group rate ($7.00), and may purchase the patch for an additional $5.00.

Talks and Presentations

The Erie Maritime Museum will send a speaker to your classroom or organization with a presentation on one of the following topics:

• The Story of the US Brig Niagara (powerpoint presentation)
• The War of 1812 and the Battle of Lake Erie (powerpoint presentation)
• Naval Medicine in the War of 1812
• USS Michigan/USS Wolverine: The Iron Steamer (powerpoint presentation)
• The US Coast Guard in Erie (powerpoint presentation)
• African American Sailors, Part of Erie’s Maritime Heritage

Other topics may also be available, please call the Museum Education Line at (814) 452-2744 ext 219 to schedule a presentation.

Remembering & Teaching America’s Forgotten War of 1812

The Erie Maritime Museum presents its interdisciplinary curriculum, with lesson plans targeted to a broad scope of Middle School students (grades 5 -9). Lessons and activities are easily tailored to the Elementary and Secondary Levels as well, and curriculum includes a crosswalk to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards and may be used to meet academic standards in all areas. Curriculum includes a DVD with 45 minutes of supplemental videos for classroom viewing.