The Perry 200 Commemoration takes place in Erie, Pa. and recognizes Erie’s role in Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s naval victory in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Perry’s fleet, including the Flagship Niagara, was built in Erie at the urging of Erie citizen Daniel Dobbins; the construction of that fleet almost single-handedly led to the transformation of Erie from a quiet frontier village to a bustling maritime port and manufacturing center.
The Perry 200 Commemoration will present a series of events – concerts, lectures, tours, pageants, picnics, parades, and fireworks – all of which share the common themes that unite us as citizens of Erie, of Pennsylvania, of the United States, and of the world itself.