The Ship’s Log

Official Blog of the Flagship Niagara League

Don’t Give Up Your Ship

We're about a week into our "Don't Give Up Your Ship" campaign -- launched with the announcement that Niagara wouldn't be sailing in 2020 -- and frankly the outpouring of support has been amazing.  To date, we've had over 400 backers, and the tally increases daily. ...

The Sixty Game Season

The Fourth of July has come and gone, and still there is no baseball in our country.  There are plans afoot for a truncated sixty-game season, but even that will be an odd spectacle, without fans in the stands. I'm not generally one for sports -- but baseball isn't a...

The More Things Change

So much has changed here at the Erie Maritime Museum in the last few months that I'm not sure where to start. Our first ever Tall Ship Summer Camp is winding down (only one full week left! How is it August already?) and the schooner Lettie G. Howard is making the most...

Departures and Arrivals

In mid-January, the Chief Mate left for a six-week stint on another ship. He'll spend part of his time being very cold in Lunenburg, and the rest of it being very warm in the Bahamas. Meanwhile, we'll be toiling away back in Erie, spending part of our time being very...

Winter Break

1. Chad insisted that I get a picture of the "bumblebee stay" that's currently strung up down in the rig shop. Admittedly, it does look very two-toned and stylish: 2. The rig shop and wood shop will be closed from Saturday, December 24 through Tuesday, January 2....

The Last Lodging Knee

The whole winter crew (except for Amy, our resident Luke Skywalker superfan) has seen the latest Star Wars movie, so we're being scrupulously careful not to let any spoilers infiltrate the workplace. Instead, we're pouring our energy into recoating the lower shrouds...

‘Twas the Week Before Christmas (Tree Ship)

Captain Sabatini's favorite Niagara event is coming up this Saturday. The plaza is decorated, the shrouds are lit, and our Christmas tree is on its way up to the fighting top. In between bouts of festive cheer, the rig shop crew has been working on the lower shrouds:...

Thanksgiving

Before we break for the holiday weekend, a quick survey on what the winter maintenance crew is thankful for: Chad: "Working here." Amy: "Power tools, and hand tools, and--" Alethea: "The slide hammer. Our welder. Everything we use for pulling fasteners." Brent: "Pat...

Getting the Band Back Together

I interviewed Amy last year around this time, and since she’s just come back to work at Niagara after a season away, it seemed like a good time to once again (lovingly) harass her with questions. So, without further ado: Where have you been since you left Niagara? I...

Boathouse Niagara

A few dozen rafters, a couple hundred feet of PVC pipe, an ocean of very old canvas, and roughly one million lashing lines later, the winter cover is (mostly) up. There's still some fussing to do, but as of this afternoon, Niagara looks like her winter self. Once the...
The Sixty Game Season

The Sixty Game Season

The Fourth of July has come and gone, and still there is no baseball in our country.  There are plans afoot for a truncated sixty-game season, but even that will be an odd spectacle, without fans in the stands. I'm not generally one for sports -- but baseball isn't a...

read more
The More Things Change

The More Things Change

So much has changed here at the Erie Maritime Museum in the last few months that I'm not sure where to start. Our first ever Tall Ship Summer Camp is winding down (only one full week left! How is it August already?) and the schooner Lettie G. Howard is making the most...

read more

Departures and Arrivals

In mid-January, the Chief Mate left for a six-week stint on another ship. He'll spend part of his time being very cold in Lunenburg, and the rest of it being very warm in the Bahamas. Meanwhile, we'll be toiling away back in Erie, spending part of our time being very...

read more

Winter Break

1. Chad insisted that I get a picture of the "bumblebee stay" that's currently strung up down in the rig shop. Admittedly, it does look very two-toned and stylish: 2. The rig shop and wood shop will be closed from Saturday, December 24 through Tuesday, January 2....

read more

The Last Lodging Knee

The whole winter crew (except for Amy, our resident Luke Skywalker superfan) has seen the latest Star Wars movie, so we're being scrupulously careful not to let any spoilers infiltrate the workplace. Instead, we're pouring our energy into recoating the lower shrouds...

read more

‘Twas the Week Before Christmas (Tree Ship)

Captain Sabatini's favorite Niagara event is coming up this Saturday. The plaza is decorated, the shrouds are lit, and our Christmas tree is on its way up to the fighting top. In between bouts of festive cheer, the rig shop crew has been working on the lower shrouds:...

read more

Thanksgiving

Before we break for the holiday weekend, a quick survey on what the winter maintenance crew is thankful for: Chad: "Working here." Amy: "Power tools, and hand tools, and--" Alethea: "The slide hammer. Our welder. Everything we use for pulling fasteners." Brent: "Pat...

read more

Getting the Band Back Together

I interviewed Amy last year around this time, and since she’s just come back to work at Niagara after a season away, it seemed like a good time to once again (lovingly) harass her with questions. So, without further ado: Where have you been since you left Niagara? I...

read more

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