Museum Ship
In 1981, the Flagship Niagara League was formed with intent of reconstructing the Niagara so that it would be a working ship, instead of an "outdoor museum piece". The organization was eventually incorporated a non-profit organization associated with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Melbourne Smith was hired in 1986 by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to head the reconstruction. The decay of the Niagara was so bad that it was dismantled and ultimately destroyed, with various timbers salvaged and used in non-structural areas of the ship. The destruction of the old ship and use of new wood often leads the Niagara to be considered a replica. While the first Niagara was built hurriedly, the new Niagara was built out of properly seasoned and preserved yellow pine and Douglas fir. The new Niagara was launched on September 10, 1988, but was not completed until July 18, 1990 when its sea trials were held. The Pennsylvania General Assembly designated the Niagara as the official flagship of Pennsylvania on April 29, 1988 and described its purpose as being a "sailing ambassador for Pennsylvania". In March 2008, the yellow pine mainmast was replaced with one of Douglas fir.
The Niagara is one of two remaining vessels that served in the War of 1812, the second being the USS Constitution. The United States Coast Guard certified the Niagara as a Sailing School Vessel in August 2005. For safety reasons, the Niagara was equipped with modern equipment such as auxiliary diesel engines, lifeboats, radar, LORAN and radio.
The Niagara was also depicted on a commemorative Pennsylvania license plate. In 2009, the Flagship Niagara League assumed day-to-day management of the Niagara after a decision by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to cut $250,000 to fill a budget deficit. The Niagara was used to depict the whaleship Essex in an episode of the Public Broadcasting Service documentary series American Experience.
Read more about this topic: USS Niagara (1813)
Famous quotes containing the words museum and/or ship:
“One can think of life after the fish is in the canoe.”
—Hawaiian saying no. 23, ‘lelo No’Eau, collected, translated, and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui, Bishop Museum Press, Hawaii (1983)
“If the oarsmen of a fast-moving ship suddenly cease to row, the suspension of the driving force of the oars doesn’t prevent the vessel from continuing to move on its course. And with a speech it is much the same. After he has finished reciting the document, the speaker will still be able to maintain the same tone without a break, borrowing its momentum and impulse from the passage he has just read out.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C)