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The Niagara is a
squared-rigged, two-masted warship originally armed with
eighteen carronades and two long guns. On the berthing deck were
sleeping quarters for the officers and crew, storerooms, sail
bin, and a wood stove. Magazines for shot and gunpowder were
stored in the hold below deck. |
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198 feet |
- Hull
Length (along rail cap)
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123 feet |
- Hull
Length (at load water line)
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110 feet, 8 inches |
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32 feet |
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10 feet, 6 inches |
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297 long tons |
- Tons
Burthen (old measure)
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492 60/95 tons |
- Mast
Heights (above water line)
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- Foremast
|
113 feet, 4 inches |
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Mainmast
|
118 feet, 4 inches |
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18 /32 Pound
Carronades
2 /12 Pound Long Guns |
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4 /32 Pound
Carronades |
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155 Officers and
Men |
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40 Officers and
Sailors
20 Professional 20 Volunteers |
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2 Cutters, 1 Yawl
Boat |
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After the War
of 1812, Niagara was scuttled in Misery Bay within Erie
Harbor. In 1913, the wreck of Niagara was brought up, and a
ship was reconstructed upon her keel and a few other
salvageable timbers.
Between 1933
and 1943, another complete reconstruction took place with
the ship being placed on a permanent cradle out of the
water. Masts and rigging were installed in 1963. By the mid
1980's, time had again taken its toll against the ship. The
Niagara was closed to the public due to severe
deterioration. In 1988, ship builder Melbourne Smith built a
fourth Niagara. The present Niagara incorporates some
original timber in non-structural areas. |
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The Niagara
incorporates a few original 1813 timbers that restorers were
able to recover from the 1913 and 1933 restorations. The
present reconstructions primarily treated pine framing and
Douglas fir planking. A partial list of materials used in
this restoration includes: |
| Keel,
Keelson, and Frames |
Laminated
yellow pine |
| Hull
Planking |
Douglas fir and
Southern yellow pine |
| Deck
Planking |
Douglas fir |
| Masts
and Yards |
Douglas fir and
Southern yellow pine |
| Sails |
"Duradon"
synthetic fiber
resembling canvas |
| Rigging |
(standing)
Steel wire
(running) Manila, dacron and polyester |
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