Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial

On Sepember 10, 1813, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry defeated and captured a British squadron of warships at the Battle of Lake Erie. The battle, fought during the War of 1812, secured control of Lake Erie for the United States and enabled General William Henry Harrison to conduct a successful invasion of Western Upper Canada. Harrison subsequently defeated the British and Indians at the Thames River on October 5, 1813. The dual victories of Lake Erie and the Thames provided an important morale boost to the young country and gave the United States a much stronger bargaining position at the peace talks. The Treaty of Ghent, signed on Christmas Eve 1814, ended the War 1812. However, in 1817 the United States signed the Rush-Bagot Agreement with Great Britian, a document that has resulted in peaceful relations between the United States and Canada since the War of 1812. Constructed between 1912 and 1915 by a commission of nine states and the federal government, Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial was built not only to commemorate the American naval triumph, but also "to inculcate the lessons of international peace by arbitration and disarmament." On June 2, 1936 the memorial was established as a unit of the National Park Service by a presidential proclamation of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

93 Delaware Ave
PO Box 549
Put-in-Bay, OH 43456-0549
419-285-2184

By Plane
Griffing Island Airlines/Flying Service (800-368-3743): Year round transit to Put-in-Bay and all of the Lake Erie Islands from Port Clinton and Sandusky. Reservations required.
PRIVATE PLANES:Put-in-Bay Airport is open daily from dawn to dusk. A small landing fee is charged and tie-downs are available.

By Car
FROM EAST: Ohio Turnpike to US 250. Take US 250 north to SR 2 west.
FROM WEST: Ohio Turnpike to SR 53 and SR 2.
There are several ferry lines that service the island, the Jet Express, The Miller Boat Line, and the Rocket.

Take SR 2 to 163/Port Clinton exit and follow the signs to the Jet Express.

Take SR 2 to 53 N/Catawba Island exit and to the Miller Boat Line.

Take SR 2 to 250 N/Sandusky exit and follow the signs to the Rocket ferry line.

By Plane
Access to the island is by public ferry or plane only. Facilities are available on the island for private planes and boats.

On the island there are several taxi companies that will take you around the island for a small fee. There is also a bus line that runs between the Miller Boat Line and town.

Getting Around
Once you arrive on South Bass Island, the park and most other attractions are either within walking distance or a short bus or taxi ride away; rates are reasonable. Golf cart/bicycle rentals are also available. Services limited during off-season.

SPRING: Generally cool and windy into June, as Lake Erie keeps things chilly.


SUMMER: Varies, usually quite comfortable, but can be hot and very humid.

FALL: Generally mild and breezy.

**Weather can change quickly on Lake Erie, so be prepared with the proper clothing.**

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Educational Programs
• Fishing
• Stargazing

Recommended Activities
Rising 352 feet above Lake Erie, the Perry Memorial is the most dominant feature of the Lake Erie Islands. Interred beneath the rotunda floor are the remains of the three American and three British officers who were killed during the Battle of Lake Erie. Carved in the rotunda walls are the names of Perry's vessels along with the names of the Americans who were killed or wounded in the battle. After a climb of 37 steps to the lower landing, an elevator takes visitors to an open air observation deck 317 feet above Lake Erie. On a moderately clear day the observation deck offers a panoramic view of the Lake Erie Islands and the shorelines of Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario. The elevator trip to the observation deck lasts approximately 60 seconds. Rangers are posted on the observation deck to answer questions and assist visitors. From mid-June through the end of August, Park Rangers offer interpretive talks about the Battle of Lake Erie, the War of 1812, construction of the monument, and other topics of interest. Talks normally occur on the plaza at the base of the Memorial and are usually offered on the hour from 11:00 am to 5 pm. On weekends, Rangers offer living history demonstrations. Dressed in War of 1812 military and civilian uniforms, Rangers present talks about the Battle and the war, concluded with a firing demonstration of reproduction flintlock muskets and rifles. On scheduled weekends there are firing demonstrations of a reproduction 32-pounder carronade.