After three years of bullying and a series of behaviors that suggest malicious intent, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) dissolved its relationship with a group who has successfully maintained the U.S. Brig Niagara since 1981. The PHMC has no experience in maritime affairs and they appear to have no clear plans for how they will maintain the vessel moving forward.

We demand a public meeting* with the leadership of PHMC and the legislators of Northwestern PA, to hear about PHMC's plans for this important piece of local and American living history.

The U.S. Brig Niagara is the warship that turned the tide in America's favor during the War of 1812, and her "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag is an important emblem for the US Navy. The PHMC owns the U.S. Brig Niagara and runs the Erie Maritime Museum (EMM) where she is docked. Through a long contractual relationship, the Flagship Niagara League (FNL) has cared for, supported, and sailed the U.S. Brig Niagara since 1981. FNL has been internationally awarded for its sail training programs. It brings the ship to ports across the Great Lakes where thousands of people are exposed to her living history each port day. The visitor counts during individual port visits are comparable to the number of annual visitors at the Erie Maritime Museum.

In 2009 the PHMC tried to end the entire Niagara program and the local community fought back to retain this important cultural and economic driver for our region, resulting in a new 10-year agreement. Three years ago that 10-year agreement expired and at the same time the previous EMM Site Administrator (and former Niagara Captain), Walter Rybka, retired. For the three years since then, the PHMC has bullied FNL staff, delayed maintenance and program decisions to the point business operations and ship maintenance becomes grueling and tenuous, and consistently refused contract negotiations. Now the PHMC has suddenly dissolved their relationship with the 40+ year old organization with no obvious plans or capacity to care for the ship themselves. 

In Jan 2022, seven legislators from Northwestern PA sent a letter to PHMC leadership requesting they attend a public forum in Erie on these issues. PHMC inaccurately suggested they were on the verge of a signed contract to avoid the forum, but it actually took them six months, and the temporary agreement only covered the six months left in the year. On top of that, as of the writing of this petition in January 2024, PHMC still owes the Flagship Niagara League close to a half a million dollars in unpaid bills. We demand more integrity and transparency than this from our government agencies.

• We demand to have the public forum the state legislators requested two years ago. 
• We demand to know how our ship will be cared for.
• We demand to know how our tax dollars are being used to maintain our shared cultural heritage.

The PA Consolidated Statues state that the PHMC shall "sail the United States Brig Niagara, within the means at its command, to various ports of call and commemorative events as the official sailing ambassador for Pennsylvania (3) Charge whatever fees are necessary to maintain the vessel and to encourage private financial support as appropriate in order to support the United States Brig Niagara and its sailing program."

By signing this petition, the citizens of Erie County and Northwestern PA demand a public hearing* with the leadership of the PHMC and the legislators of Northwestern PA. 

Support from those outside of Northwestern PA is welcome, as the U.S. Brig Niagara is part of America's historical heritage and holds meaning in the hearts of many Americans.

* Note: This petition originally requested a public meeting "in early January 2024." We continue to demand a public meeting. The deadline has been removed from the petition, but we include in this footnote to show the length of time this request has been ignored and/or denied by PHMC.