On March 22, 2024, PHMCThe Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the state agency that stewards the U.S. Brig Niagara and Erie Maritime Museum. The PHMC is responsible for the collect... 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 approval or knowledge of the general board (See this post on documents regarding the board chair’s behavior).
Let’s take a closer look at what direction PHMC and FNL want to take Niagara in the future according to this press release.
PHMC says: “Flagship Niagara League Board of Directors vote in favor of continued collaboration with Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, both organizations working toward formal agreement”.
This statement is accurate according to trusted sources. The FNL Board did vote in favor of continuing negotiations towards becoming an associate group, but no commitment was made at this time to actually become an associate group.
PHMC says: “…FNL has chosen to move forward with becoming the associate group for the Erie Maritime Museum…”
This statement is not accurate. The FNL Board voted in favor of moving forward toward becoming the associate group. There are issues yet to be resolved and concerns by board members that need to be addressed. There is a big difference in moving forward WITH an idea and moving forward TOWARD an idea.
PHMC says: “There are still several important issues, however, that need to be resolved by FNL, such as the future of Lettie G Howard and other FNL sailing programs, before a final contract with PHMC can be signed.”
This statement is very accurate according to our trusted sources. Unfortunately, this is not good news. The future of Lettie G Howard is up in the air. In this scenario FNL’s board leadership is not planning on providing any of their award winning sailing programs, and they are looking to divest themselves of Lettie G Howard. With no captain, no crew, and no relevant operational staff, the future of Niagara’s sailing capabilities are looking bleak. As PHMC stated, “PHMC and FNL are optimistic that these programs will be transitioned to another organization…” They continue to state that Niagara will be sailing, but who do they think will be providing sailing programs? Niagara’s COIThe Certificate of Inspection(COI) is a legal document issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) confirming that a vessel meets specified safety and operational standards. It ... requires hiring and training an extensive licensed crew and no signs of progress have been made. Are they setting themselves up to be able to claim that they cannot implement the PA Statute that mandates Niagara’s sail training program and to sail to “various ports of call and [events] as the official sailing ambassador for Pennsylvania”? How convenient for keeping Niagara as a static dockside attraction. See this testimonial video from the last time PHMC attempted to shut down the sailing program in 2009.
PHMC says: “…FNL will work alongside PHMC…”
There is little evidence that PHMC has or will allow FNL to work alongside them. Their past behavior (as found in RTKA Right to Know (RTK) request is a request for information from a state or local government body in Pennsylvania. You are allowed to request any kind of information, and aside from... Requests we will be expanding on) indicates that PHMC demands the power to make all the rules, control the money and employees, and make all the decisions about Niagara (no matter that there are/were others with more knowledge or experience). FNL gets to be a fundraiser and PHMC gets to spend the money as they wish… what a great deal! And it’s a power dynamic PHMC clearly favors with its partners, take a look at this 2008 paper(archive link) specifically citing PHMC’s relationships with its associate groups as an example of what NOT to do.
PHMC says: ” Both PHMC and FNL are dedicated to ensuring a bright future for the Erie Maritime MuseumThe Erie Maritime Museum (EMM) is a cultural institution located in Erie, Pennsylvania, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the region's maritime heritage. Established in 1997, ... and the U.S. Brig Niagara…” and “PHMC is enthusiastic about continued collaboration with FNL and the great potential to achieve even more for the Greater Erie region…”
In the almost 90 days since PHMC has taken control of Niagara they have spent taxpayer money putting an emergency second cover on Niagara (after refusing to purchase a cover last spring), have no captain (or even a job posting for that matter, see this article on their poorly conceived posting for shipwright), no crew, no plans announcing where and when Niagara will go to shipyard, have estranged ship volunteers, and refuse to answer questions of the community in a public forum. There is no sailing season, meaning tourists will be disappointed when they find out they can only get a deck tour. And saddest of all, it will be a long time until Erieites can look out on Presque Isle Bay or Lake Erie and see our beloved Flagship Niagara sailing. Some bright future… It looks more and more like Niagara will be the dockside attraction that PHMC has been hoping for.
How will all of this help Niagara? FNL’s fundraising will be diminished without experienced professional staff and further diluted by now having to fund Erie Maritime Museum projects (perhaps a new exhibit, or landscaping the flower beds, or sending museum staff to conferences). We know that PHMC is required to have an associate group. Is there a deadline for this? Are they running out of time and need to show that they’ve been trying to convince FNL to “paint the fence” for them and become an associate group? Does the FNL board believe that by giving away their identity, abandoning staff, ceding all volunteers, eliminating the sail training programs for which they’ve won numerous awards, and divesting themselves of Lettie G Howard that they have accomplished anything?
Once again PHMC leaves us with more questions than answers. PHMC, and now FNL’s Board, continues to release rosy press releases hoping we’ll quiet down. We continue to call for a public forum. Don’t Give Up The Ship!
Ginny S.
Addendum: Referenced Materials
Original PHMC Press Release
To ensure that the press release isn’t quietly altered as we’ve come to expect, we have copied the original text below from the original March 22, 2024 copy. There is also an archived copy on archive.org’s wayback machine.
Flagship Niagara League Board Of Directors Vote In Favor Of Continued Collaboration With Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Both Organizations Working Toward Formal Agreement
Erie, PA – The Flagship Niagara League (FNL) and the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) are pleased to announce that as the next step in their collaboration, FNL has chosen to move forward with becoming the associate group for the Erie Maritime Museum. At a special board meeting, FNL’s Board of Directors voted in favor of this decision, marking an important step towards a formal agreement with PHMC.
There are still several important issues, however, that need to be resolved by FNL, such as the future of the Lettie G. HowardThe Lettie G. Howard is a historic schooner currently operated by the Flagship Niagara League(FNL) in Erie and owned by the South Street Seaport Museum(SSSM) in New York City. Buil... and other FNL sailing programs, before a final contract with PHMC can be signed. PHMC and FNL are optimistic that these sailing programs will be transitioned to another organization with an aligned mission and are looking forward to the next steps in this collaborative process.
The recent board vote follows a series of discussions aimed at defining the relationship between the two organizations, as pledged in a joint public announcement made in December 2023.
“I would like to thank PHMC and FNL staff and board members for investing the time to achieve this important first step for the League and the Erie Maritime Museum,” said FNL Board Chair Mike Martin. “There is still work to do, but the groundwork has been laid to bring this agreement to fruition.”
As the associate group, FNL will work alongside PHMC to support a shared vision for the Erie Maritime Museum, with the U.S. Brig Niagara as a central focus of its programming and educational initiatives. Both organizations are committed to offering dynamic educational experiences that highlight Pennsylvania’s maritime history to visitors.
“PHMC is enthusiastic about continued collaboration with FNL and the great potential to achieve even more together for the people of the Greater Erie region and for all Pennsylvanians,” said PHMC Executive Director Andrea LoweryAndrea Lowery, serves as Executive Director and Chief of the Division of Architecture and Preservation for PHMC..
Both PHMC and FNL are dedicated to ensuring a bright future for the Erie Maritime Museum and the U.S. Brig Niagara. Their partnership not only benefits the two organizations but also the Greater Erie community and surrounding region.
Visitors can look forward to many years of enjoying the Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara and experiencing Erie’s rich maritime history firsthand.
https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/phmc-details.aspx?newsid=454
Articles on PHMC’s Previous Attempts to Shutter Niagara
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