Tourism Wins in War of 1812-- Part 2

**  Put-in-Bay sold 7,500 tour tickets.

**  Between 8,000 to 10,000 spectators aboard 2000 boats watched the Battle of Lake Erie re-enactment.  Another 1,450 participated in the event.

**  Port Clinton, Ohio, drew 30,000 visitors.  Another 3,000 paid to board the two tall ships docked there.

**  It was heavily covered in the media, including the New York Times, CNN, NPR and the Washington Post.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Tall Ships Coming To Chicago-- Part 2

LYNX (USA) The 122-foot long square topsail schooner Lynx is a replica of a naval schooner from the War of 1812. Served as a blockade-runner and warship, the original Lynx was among the first ships to defend American freedom.

 She serves today as a living history museum, flying flags and pennants from the 1812 era and crew members wear period uniforms in keeping with the 19th century American maritime traditions.

PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II (USA) Is a 157-foot reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore-built topsail schooner. Pride of Baltimore's mission is to promote Maryland's importance to U.S. and maritime history, in particular the War of 1812 and the penning of "The Star-Spangled Banner.

She maintains an international sailing schedule with a crew of 11 and two rotating professional captains. 

--Brock-Perry

Then It Really Begins

Four months later, the Americans crossed again, upstream of Fort George at a place called Queenstown Heights.  General Isaac Brock, Canadian militia and First Nations warriors defeated them and Brock was killed.

In the months to come, such names as Laura Secord, Stoney Creek, Crysler's Farm, Tecumsah, Isaac Brock, Michilimacinac, Raisin River, Francis Scott Key and dozens of others entered history.

Events commemorating the bicentennial of the war are already under way.  The war at sea is well-represented by the Tall Ships in Operation Sail.  They were at New Orleans in April, New York City, Norfolk, Virginia and in Baltimore June 13-19.  After that, Boston June 30 to July 5 and New London, Connecticut, July 6 to 8.

Other events are planned:

Fort George will be hosting a military ball
Old Fort Erie, site of one of the war's bloodiest sieges, will be getting a new visitors centre.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Bits of War: Erie's Commemoration-- Illinois' Fort Johnson-- Tall Ships New York

1.  ERIE'S COMMEMORATION--From the April 27th Erie (Pa) Time News by Erica Erwin.  It will consist of concerts, picnics, lectures, movies, historical tours and a parade.  In total, there will be over 30 events spread out over 18 months.  Perry's Lake Erie fleet was built at Erie.http://www.perry200.com/


2.  ILLINOIS' FORT JOHNSON--  Steve Tieken spoke in Quincy, Illinois about Fort Johnson which was built near Warsaw, Illinois during 1812.  He discussed his systematic search and high-tech methods he used to record, document and preserve artifacts found at the post.


3.  TALL SHIPS NEW YORK--  Seventeen Tall Ships will be visiting New York City for Op Sail 2012 for the bicentennial of the War of 1812.  The ships will be open to the public from May 23rd to May 30th.


Brock-Perry