Here is a view of the Brig Niagara's Crow's Nest or more correctly, her Fighting Platform. Sitting in port, there are no crew members aloft "wearing ship." That must be a glorious sight. In the year 1813 the crew consisted of 115 officers and men. Today the crew consists of 16 professional seamen with an additional 24 volunteers.The original Brig Niagara was designed by the Scottish born naval architect Henry Eckford. Eckford and Noah Brown (who's shipyard was right next door to Eckford's shipyard at Presque Isle PA.) build the Niagara, her sister ship Lawrence, and four other ships in the spring of 1813. They were ably assisted by Daniel Dobbins who organized the whole project.
Today's Brig Niagara was restored by the International Watercraft Society under the guidance of shipbuilder Melbourne Smith and under much less trying circumstances.*
