Erie Maritime Museum

The Erie Maritime Museum is a maritime museum in Pennsylvania that features exhibits on navigation, shipbuilding, and Great Lakes history through artifacts, models, and historical photographs. The collection focuses on the lake's maritime significance for the region and its development over time.

The museum was established in 1998 to preserve the maritime heritage of Lake Erie, which played a central role in regional trade and naval operations. The lake served as a major commercial route and site of naval conflicts that shaped the region's development.

The museum preserves the U.S. Brig Niagara, a reconstructed warship from the War of 1812 that now serves as a training vessel and educational platform. The ship demonstrates how people lived and worked on the Great Lakes during that era.

The museum is located near the waterfront in downtown Erie and is accessible by public transportation. It is best visited on a weekday to avoid larger crowds and explore the exhibits at a comfortable pace.

The facility houses a research library with documents and records about maritime studies that offer visitors insight into lesser-known stories of the lake. This collection allows exploration beyond typical exhibits to discover the deeper history of the region.