Location: North Gallery

The Ship

Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819) supervised the building of ships to strengthen the American naval force on Lake Erie, and with nine vessels, on September 10, 1813, was attacked by the British.  His flagship, USS Lawrence, was almost destroyed, and he transferred to another of his ships, USS Niagara, to continue the battle.

According to Theodore Roosevelt’s “Naval History of the War of 1812,” Niagara was launched six months after the first axeman struck a tree to start building.  This meant that she was built entirely of green lumber.  Her sails and iron work had been scavenged from other American ships.

A replica of USS Niagara sails Lake Erie today.

The Model

Scale:  1/8”  Case:  H 28 ¾”  L 35”  W 14”

Plank on frame construction by an unknown builder.
Source: The Quester Maritime Collection, Stonington, Connecticut