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034 - USS Niagara



What a beautiful working replica of this historic ship.  It is used today as a training ship and offers 10day expeditions for youth to learn the ways of sailing a Brigg.  It is about as exact as you can expect.  I loved their use manila rope, linseed oil, and other items that gives it the smell of an old ship – I don’t know what it is but it’s very familiar.  Below decks were tight, it only had a 5ft ceiling in the galley area – how anyone could operate in that space long term was beyond me but the professional crew does.


Galley stove and 5ft ceiling - how do they do it?


Watching it sail was like stepping back it time.  It passed us on the breakwater silently, tall, and majestic.  It was easy to imagine the awe seeing this come into an isolated harbor like Presque Island 200 years ago.  Something so big and complicated carrying so many men and cannon would change the balance of power with its arrival.  It would intimidate the strongest and lure the wondering spirit to join.  It was an absolute thrill to be able to walk aboard her without being corralled, to explore and imagine what it was like and sense its different smells.

The navigation station stored the chart, compass, clock and other tools of the trade.  Note the tiller just behind, yes, not a wheel!  It takes two to handle it.  Note to the number of lines.  Each has a specific function and name, there are hundreds of lines.  A master knows the location, purpose and name of each.  The professional crew told us they only learn all of them after 3 or 4 years working one station at a time.

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