Frequently Asked Questions

Pets

• Only service animals are allowed in the building.

Food and Beverages

• Are not permitted in exhibit areas but can be enjoyed outside.

No Smoking

Cell Phone Use

• Kindly be considerate in your use of cell phones.

Respect This Historic Site/Museum

• By not running, climbing, or jumping inside, littering, drinking alcoholic beverages unless served as part of a property head-approved site activity, or engaging in other disruptive or dangerous behaviors. Street clothing and shoes are required. Unless otherwise noted, please do not touch the exhibits.

Children Under 12

• Must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Photography and Recording

• For commercial use may only be done with permission from the Site Administrator. During your visit, you may be filmed, videotaped, and/or photographed by a facility staff or contract photographer. Your attendance serves for the use of your image by the facility for promotional or marketing purposes.

Special Use of the Site

• Please talk with staff if interested in any special use of the site, or to schedule private visits.

The above rules have been adopted pursuant to 46 PA Code. Chapters 1,3, and 7

The Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara are owned and administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the official historical agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

A Museum tour includes a self-guided exploration of our two-story exhibit gallery as well as a docent-led tour of the Brig Niagara (when in port). A typical tour lasts anywhere between 45 minutes to 2 hours.

The Museum is not considered “pet friendly” however, we do accommodate service dogs in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A Service Dog is considered a “dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities”. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets.

PLEASE NOTE: Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA

The Brig is currently in port awaiting shipyard. She is available for deck tours.

We’re taking a pause on booking any event rentals here at Erie Maritime Museum for the foreseeable future. As with many other businesses & organizations over the past few years, changing dynamics in staffing, funding, and contractual relationships are forcing us to reevaluate & revisit our operational model. We will offer event rentals here in the future but with clearer and more concrete policies, procedures, and pricing. Our intent is to structure our rental program to keep the mission of the museum paramount and has guidelines in place to ensure a consistent quality experience for both guests and support staff.

Currently, the Brig is not in a sailing status and is awaiting repairs. More information will be made available in the coming months.

There are public restrooms in the Museum’s lobby.

For more accessibility information, please visit our page on accessibility. If needing further support, feel free to contact us!

Yes! We are still honoring memberships for the Flagship Niagara League until the close of business, on December 31, 2024.

As we are state-owned Museum, we do not have, or issue, W-9 forms.