Note: This piece is focused on the experience of the volunteer council and interactions had with PHMC staff, but while investigating RTK documentation we found that there were a large number of falsehoods and inaccuracies in how PHMC represented information to local...
As of April 23, 2024, the USCG database of active vessels now considers U.S. Brig Niagara to be inactive. Without getting too far into the regulations here, it does not change much in how Niagara is certified with the Coast Guard, what inspections are required, etc....
Since the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) assumed full control of U.S. Brig Niagara on January 1, 2024 they have claimed that they plan on continuing to sail Niagara, albeit in a more limited role and focusing on the northwest coast of...
You didn’t get caught by that April Fools header, did you? PHMC hasn’t even posted a job description for Niagara Captain. At the Jan. 4th & 5th private volunteer informational sessions, volunteers expressed concerns that a transition plan wasn’t put into place for...
On March 22, 2024, PHMC issued a press release regarding the US Brig Niagara (see archived copy below). The Flagship Niagara League (FNL) was included in the press release quoting Mike Martin (FNL's Board President) who once again joined forces with PHMC without the...
Author's Note: Since this piece was initially published, Mike Martin resigned as the FNL Board President and is no longer on the board. Instead of updating the article to reference the "now former" board president, we are maintaining it how it was originally...
On Feb 7, 2024, a PHMC commissioner graciously sat down with a handful of volunteers. Here are the questions, answers, and discussions we had. And… here’s an offer from PHMC’s Director of External Affairs that came about as a direct result of that meeting. (You’ll...
Well, PHMC has finally managed to get one of the Niagara jobs posted. And it’s a doozey! Shipwright, Engineer, Able-Bodied Seafarer, Volunteer Wrangler, Project Planner… the list of duties seems to cross all departments without regard for practicality or feasibility....
Our petition work is ongoing but on the surface it may appear a bit quieter. We are busy meeting with relevant parties and gathering resources. We are still hard at work, but as stated in the last update, we’ve got to stop feeding PHMC what their job duties are and...
After reaching 1,000 petition signatures we delivered the petition to Rep. Pat Harkins, Sen. Dan Laughlin, and the Governor’s local representative, Mike Ferritto, asking them to call for a public forum on Niagara. We also shared the petition and request for a public...