Protect Brig Niagara's Mission

Our goal is to ensure that the Brig Niagara is in the hands of people who can maintain her and operate her safely, successfully, and transparently as an actively sailing vessel in her role as ambassador for the people and history of Pennsylvania.

We do not seek to represent just one voice, but to provide a platform for the community of people who love Niagara and are concerned for her future.

Newest Articles

PHMC Gives Up The Ship to… Canada?

Concerns grow over the future of PHMC’s stewardship of Niagara as they outsource her crew to a Canadian company.

Open Letter to PHMC Commissioners and NW PA Legislators:

A concerned volunteer voices concerns to PHMC commissioners and state representatives over reducing Niagara’s ties to the Erie community.

PHMC Reprimanded by Auditor General in 2010: How Little Has Changed (Part 1)

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General expressed deep concerns over PHMC’s handling of artifacts. If PHMC is lax in their own professional sphere, why should we trust them in maritime affairs? With the operations and maintenance of the U.S. Brig Niagara? 

Consequences Begin: Niagara Removed From Tall Ships Erie 2025

PHMC’s delays over Niagara’s care now have very real consequences as PHMC announces that Niagara will not attend Tall Ships Erie 2025.

Talk is Cheap: Why PHMC Has A Trust Problem

PHMC says that we should trust them. Let’s take a look at PHMC’s broken promises to see if they can be trusted.

Testimonial: A Life Transformed

Former Niagara deckhand Hank describes how sailing on Niagara transformed his life and was a catalyst for a career change.

EMM Site Administrator Jim Hall: In His Own Words

An in depth look into a concerning meeting that was held between EMM Site Administrator Jim Hall and a volunteer.

Niagara’s Captain: An Inside Look Into the Hiring Process

PHMC has yet to publicly post the position for Niagara’s Captain, but they claim the search is ongoing. How could this be and how open is it?

Addendum: Fact Check on the PHMC Emails Revealed in “Shipwrecked by Command!”

The blog post “Shipwrecked by Command! How PHMC Cast Away its Volunteers” includes several documents from our Right to Know Requests. We felt those documents deserved additional context, but including it in the piece focused on volunteers did not feel like the right...

Will Niagara Attend the 250th Anniversary of the US Navy?

The US Navy will host it’s 250th Anniversary in Philadelphia in 2025. Niagara was originally going to be one of the centerpieces of the celebration. However, PHMC is no longer planning on taking her. What happened and can she still attend?

How to Get Involved

Sign the Petition

Protect Brig Niagara has a petition demanding a public meeting with PHMC leadership and local legislators to ask for PHMC’s plans.

Sign and add your voice, share the petition with friends.

Join the Discussion

Join our Facebook group to see when new articles come in and connect with the Niagara community.

Comment to share your perspective or reach out to us if you have a testimonial about your experience with Niagara to share

Contact Local Officials

Raise your voice to let your local representatives know how much you care about your ship!

As Pennsylvania’s Flagship, Niagara represents an important and living part of our local, regional, and national history so your support matters wherever you are!

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Full Archive

Addendum: Fact Check on the PHMC Emails Revealed in “Shipwrecked by Command!”

Addendum: Fact Check on the PHMC Emails Revealed in “Shipwrecked by Command!”

The blog post “Shipwrecked by Command! How PHMC Cast Away its Volunteers” includes several documents from our Right to Know Requests. We felt those documents deserved additional context, but including it in the piece focused on volunteers did not feel like the right venue. This companion to Ginny’s post about the volunteer council explains the actions and statements occurring between PHMC, FNL,...