Monday, September 7, 2026

Question: What nickname does Erie carry thanks to its role as home port of a famous War of 1812 warship?

Answer: The Flagship City. Erie earned the name as the home port of the Niagara, Commander Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship in the pivotal 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, where his fleet defeated the British. The city also goes by “The Gem City,” a nod to the sparkling, jewel-like appearance of Lake Erie on a sunny day.