Pennsylvania Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Erie, Pennsylvania

Population: 108,718

Located in Erie County

Erie, Pennsylvania houses the Brig Niagara, Land Lighthouse, Presque Isle Lighthouse, Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. Tourists visit Erie Zoo, Waldameer Inc. & Water World, Erie Playhouse, Roadhouse Theatre and Presque Isle State Park. Most enjoy Warner Theatre, Dafmark Dance Academy and Theatre, Schuster Theatre and the Lake Erie Ballet. More entertainment is provided by Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, the Erie Phiharmonic or the Erie Youth Symphony. Don't forget to locate the Civic Center.

Erie, Pennsylvania's educational institutions include Penn State, Mercyhurst College, Edinboro University in addition to Gannon University and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. The local sports teams include the Seawolves and Otters.

While in Erie, tourists also embark upon the Erie Art Museum, the Lakeshore Railway Historical Society, Marx Toy Museum, Inc., ExpERIEnce Children Museum and the Erie County Historical Society. Most will locate Fire Fighter Historical Museum, Inc.

Erie, Pennsylvania takes great pride as the home of the US Brig Niagara. This reconstruction of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship in the battle of Lake Erie was completed in the summer of 1990, and since then Niagara has embarked on an ambitious program of sailing and historic interpretation. As an ambassador of Erie and the State of Pennsylvania, Niagara has visited numerous ports on the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Seaboard giving thousands of visitors an opportunity to share in this unique piece of history. When in port, Niagara is open for guided tours and has an active day sailing program.

Spanning 40,000 acres in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, the Lake Erie appellation has a 150-year history in grape growing and winemaking. The Lake Erie Quality Wine Alliance, an organization of wineries along the tri-state shoreline, invites the public to tour and taste the region's distinctive wines.

Lake Erie is the most shallow Great Lake and the temperate climate along its southern shore has led to the growth of the second largest viticultural region in North America. The cool spring and summer lake breezes, along with the plateau-like topography of the shoreline, blend their forces to create ideal growing conditions for wine grapes.

Perry Monument towers over the Presque Isle shoreline, overlooking the City of Erie. Visit this monument to Commodore Oliver Perry, a courageous military leader during the War of 1812. The east park contains the Edison Electric Fountain with water jets illuminated by colored lights at night; a statue of Ebon Brewer and a statue of Oliver Hazard Perry. The west park contains a gazebo; two cannons in memory of General Anthony Wayne; a statue to Civil War veterans and monuments and plaques to WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam veterans and MIA's. There are also monuments to Firefighters and Police fallen in the line of duty and to Organized Labor.

Lake Erie has played an inextricable role in Erie's past and present; it's only fitting, then, that the city's newest showplace pays homage to that tradition. The Erie Maritime Museum features multi-media exhibits on the geological and ecological development of the Great Lakes; the War of 1812 and the Battle of Lake Erie; and examines life aboard a wooden warship. A reconstruction of the mid-ship section of the Lawrence, OH. Perry's first flagship, sits near the actual prow of the Wolverine, the U.S. Navy's first iron-hulled ship. When in port, the Flagship Niagara is docked at a special slip here.

Erie's beautiful Bayfront almost had it all, but was in need of one defining element, a focal point; this 187-foot tower, located at Dobbins Landing, provides just that. Built to commemorate the 1995 celebration of the city's 200th birthday, the tower has proven to be a popular gathering spot for residents and tourists alike. Two observation decks are attainable by elevator, or stairs give visitors breathtaking views of Presque Isle and its bay to the north and the sweep of Erie's historic downtown to the south. Souvenirs and food are available at Niagara Concessions in the tower lobby.

Erie is Pennsylvania's third largest city. Located in the northwest corner of the state, Erie is successfully maintaining its traditional reputation as an important industrial center. But, Erie is also a major tourist attraction. On Pennsylvania's only seashore, Erie boasts seven miles of clean, sandy, fresh-water beaches on the Presque Isle peninsula, jutting into Lake Erie, a beautiful, natural setting for the Commonwealth's largest state park. A registered national natural landmark, recognized internationally as an ecological gem, the park offers a unique mix of nature and recreation. The Park hosts about four million visitors a year, yet never seems crowded, because of its size and diversity. Presque Isle Bay and the nearby lake are famous for boating and fishing. Charter boats are available. Erie is also experiencing substantial growth as a regional shopping center, with visitors from nearby states and Canada taking advantage of the lack of state sales tax on food and clothing.