USS Niagara, along with her sister ship USS Lawrence, were built during the War of 1812 to protect coastline on Lake Erie from the British. The Brig Niagara is well known for her actions during the Battle of Lake Erie on 10 September 1813. Oliver Hazard Perry led the US into the battle aboard his flagship Lawrence, while (disobeying orders) Niagara stayed clear of action. Eventually Lawrence was completely disable and Perry lowered her flag. Perry then transferred to Niagara and reengaged in the battle – this time forcing the surrender of the British fleet that had participated in the Battle of Lake Erie.

USS Niagara was scuttled in 1820 and then raised in 1913 for the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie. Numerous restorations of the ship have taken place since that time.  The restoration work has been challenging due to the lack of original plans. For many years the ship sailed and / or was towed to many locations within the Great Lakes for display. However, in 2024 the US Coast Guard declared Niagara to be inactive and closed her to the public.

The basis for this model is the 1:64 scale Model Shipways kit for Niagara that presents the ship after her 1990 reconstruction during which her home was the maritime museum in Erie, Pennsylvania. This model has been stained golden oak and protected with several coats of a matte varnish. The completed model is just over 43″ long, approximately 27″ high, and 12″ wide.  It is currently mounted on a 43″ x 16.5″ baseboard.

Approximately 400 hours were spent on this handcrafted Niagara model. This exquisite model can be yours for $3,500.