aerial view was taken from atop Perry's Victory and
International Peace Memorial at Put-in-Bay. The
battle was fought 10 miles away to the northwest.
Ohio — It’s hard to ignore Commodore Oliver Hazard
Perry and what he did.
with the 352-foot-high Doric monument that dominates the
skyline of South Bass Island in Lake Erie off Ohio’s
was built with 78 layers of pink granite from
Massachusetts, topped with an 11-ton bronze urn. It is the
major landmark in Put-in-Bay, the touristy village that is
one of Ohio’s top summer getaways.
island has about 500 year-round residents and about
500,000 summer visitors. It appeals to all kinds of
weekend islanders and boaters. Put-in-Bay is widely known
for its bar and party scene. Some laud its sunsets. Some
call it Lake Erie’s Key West.
monument has a fancy name — Perry’s Victory and
International Peace Memorial — and sits on a 25-acre
site at the edge of downtown Put-in-Bay. It marks Perry’s
naval victory over the British fleet in the Battle of Lake
Erie in the War of 1812; the 200th anniversary was
celebrated earlier this year.
built two brigs and four schooners on Presque Isle near
Erie, Pa. Five smaller vessels came from Black Rock (now
Buffalo). He recruited 500 men to sail the ships.
fleet moved to western Lake Erie. In effect, the fleet had
cut off the British supply route to its forces in Detroit.
The American naval presence forced the British to take
Sept. 10, 1813, Perry’s fleet defeated the British in a
key battle fought 10 miles west of Put-in-Bay.
British under Robert Barclay had guns that were most
effective at long range. Perry used mostly carronades that
are most effective at close range, so he needed the wind
at his back.
27-year-old Perry was forced to abandon his ship, the U.S.
brig Lawrence, after it became disabled two hours into the
battle. He shifted to the Niagara, its sister ship.
the British commanders were killed or wounded. Two British
ships collided and were locked together. Perry took
advantage, and 15 minutes later, the British surrendered.
was an important, but costly battle. The Americans lost 27
men with 96 wounded. The British had 41 killed and 92
victory assured American control of Lake Erie and opened
the door for Gen. William Henry Harrison to capture
British-held Detroit and to invade Canada. That enabled
the United States to control the Northwest Territory,
message to Harrison is famous: "We have met the enemy
and they are ours."
was the first time that an entire British fleet had been
captured, and Perry became a national hero. It was one of
few American victories in the war.
Put-in-Bay visitors can go to the top of the monument in a
small, old-style elevator. The fee is $3 for those 16 and
observation deck is 317 feet above Lake Erie. You gaze
down at downtown Put-in-Bay that is best known for its
partying and alcohol-fueled revelry, the boat-filled
harbor and surrounding islands. It’s a very impressive
clear days, you can see where Perry battled the British to
the west of Middle Bass Island.
is the third-highest national monument, behind the Gateway
Arch in St. Louis, Mo., and the Washington Monument in
was built between 1912 and 1915, funded by money raised
from a nine-state commission with matching funds from the
federal government. It cost $480,000. It became part of
the federal park system in 1936.
remains of three American and three British officers
killed in the Battle of Lake Erie lie under its rotunda.
Today the monument also marks the peace between the United
States, Canada and Great Britain.
monument was largely closed to the public from 2006 to
mid-2012, after a 500-pound piece of granite fell from the
observation deck. That triggered major repairs by the
National Park Service.
more work is needed, especially on the foundation, the
sides of the memorial and a plaza, said superintendent
Blanca Stransky. That work will cost "in the millions
of dollars," she said. The park service will kick off
a new study in the next year to look at options.
first-rate visitor center sits at the edge of the grassy
area surrounding the monument’s base. Monument hours are
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from May to October, and by
appointment. For information, contact Perry’s Victory
and International Peace Memorial, 419-285-2184, www.nps.gov/pevi.
has been a tourist attraction for a long time. The island
drew an estimated 15,000 visitors in 1859, when grapes and
wines were the biggest attractions.
became a major destination after the 625-room Victory
Hotel opened in 1892. It was hit by a major fire in 1919.
Other hotels followed.
come for the beaches, the walleye and perch fishing, and
the Victorian-style homes, shops, restaurants, bars and
to South Bass Island is one of the attractions. You can
take ferries from Catawba Island (actually a peninsula),
Port Clinton, Sandusky and Lorain from April to November.
You can also fly in.
are few cars on the island. Most visitors travel on foot,
by bike, on golf carts, by bus and cabs.
find hotels, bed and breakfasts and a state park
campground on the island, a historic carousel, tram tours,
parasailing, miniature golf and pirate cruises.
a few suggestions of what to do in Put-in-Bay:
lovers should check out the Lake Erie Islands Nature and
Wildlife Center. It offers family-friendly nature
excursions from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May to September at 255
Meechen Road. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for
children 6 to 11 and senior citizens. Call 419-285-8301 or
State University and Ohio Sea Grant operate the free
Aquatic Visitor Center with live fish and hands-on
displays about Lake Erie and its fishery. It is on a point
on the far side of the Put-in-Bay harbor, housed in a
historic state fish hatchery. The site is owned by the
Ohio Department of Natural resources. Free fishing for
youngsters. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays
through Sundays in the summer. Call 419-285-1800 or see www.ohioseagrant.osu.edu/avc.
can rent boats from Kayak the Bay Ltd. and paddle the
harbor and around the 1,382-acre island. It is a 12-mile
trip. The water can be choppy with strong currents, but
the sheltered harbor area can be fun. Singles and doubles
are available at 760 Bayview Dr. Call 419-967-0796 or see www.kayakthebay.net.
Winery and Crystal Cave at 978 Catawba Ave., 419-285-3343.
The winery was established in 1888. Tours are offered
daily. Go to http://heinemanswinery.com
or call 419-285-2811.
Cave Family Fun Center. The cave was discovered by Perry
in 1813. For details, go to www.perryscave.com.
will find the Cooke Castle on Ohio State’s Gibraltar
Island in the Put-in-Bay harbor. The 15-room structure was
built in 1865 as the summer home of Jay Cooke, a noted
Civil War banker in Philadelphia. It is a National
Historic Landmark. See www.osu.edu/cookecastle.
Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum with island and Lake
Erie artifacts, displays and photographs is downtown on
Catawba Avenue. Admission is $3 for adults and children
and $2 for senior citizens. 419-285-2804 or www.leihs.org.
tourist information, go to www.visitputinbay.org