WASHINGTON, LADY WASHINGTON

Site Description #

History #

Originally constructed in Erie, Pennsylvania, the WASHINGTON had a unique journey to Lake Ontario. It was transported on wheels and later sailed as an English vessel under the name LADY WASHINGTON.

Tragically, during a fierce gale in 1803, the sloop WASHINGTON foundered on Lake Ontario while enroute from Kingston, Ontario, to Niagara, Ontario, Canada with a full cargo. This event marked a solemn end to the vessel’s illustrious seafaring days. Notably, the WASHINGTON holds the distinction of being the oldest confirmed commercial sailing ship known to have existed in the Great Lakes. It also holds the honor of being the first sloop built on Lake Erie and the first to sail in both Lakes Erie and Ontario.

The construction of the sloop WASHINGTON commenced in 1797 under the guidance of Connecticut carpenter Eliphalet Beebe. The Pennsylvania Population Company, an organization involved in land development north of Erie, Pennsylvania, commissioned the vessel. With a carrying capacity of 36 tons, the WASHINGTON was initially intended for transporting people, their belongings, and essential supplies from the southern end of the portage near Niagara Falls.

On September 15, 1798, the sloop was triumphantly launched just north of present-day Erie, Pennsylvania. Its maiden voyage took it to Fort Erie in search of supplies. Ownership of the sloop was officially transferred to the Pennsylvania Population Company on October 12th of the same year. During this time, two names were proposed for the vessel: WASHINGTON and Lady Washington. The name WASHINGTON was ultimately chosen by the ship’s largest shareholder, Robert Hamilton, a prominent merchant from Queenston, Ontario.

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