 After the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10 , 1813 , Perry 's two largest ships were badly damaged , and the US Brig Lawrence was intentionally sunk in Misery Bay . The Lawrence was raised in 1875 but was burned while on display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition . The US Brig Niagara was initially repaired , then sunk for preservation in 1820 and raised in 1913 , and parts of it were eventually used in the current Niagara , based across Presque Isle Bay in Erie . 
