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The sailing ship in this picture is a little hard to see because I was taking the photograph in the last light of day through a chain-link fence. The exhibit had closed by the time I got there, so I didn't get to go inside the fence. I wanted you to see the ship, anyway. It's the "Niagara," an exact replica of the sailing ship that was commanded by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry in the decisive battle against the British in Lake Erie in the War of 1812 . Many of the naval battles of that war were fought on the Great Lakes. There were two signs near the ship that told about the battle. One sign described the contribution of the African-Americans who were crew on that ship and how their sailing expertise helped win the battle for the Americans.