Visit Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial to enjoy uninterrupted views of the islands of Lake Erie and the shorelines of both Canada and the U.S. This 352-feet (107-meter) tall Doric column honors the service people that fought in the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812. Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial also commemorates a long-standing friendship between Britain, Canada and the USA. Learn about this alliance and the battles at museum exhibitions.
Stand at the base of the memorial and appreciate its imposing Doric features. The remains of officers that fell during the Battle of Lake Erie were re-interned in the column’s rotunda. Step inside, climb a short staircase and then ride an elevator to the 317-feet (97-meter) high observation deck. Gaze across Lake Erie’s deep-blue water and along its Michigan and Ohio state coastlines. Spot islands, such as Kelleys Island, and, on a clear day, make out Canada’s mainland.
Come to the memorial on a weekend to watch gun and cannon demonstrations. From Friday to Sunday, rangers dressed in 19th-century period clothing carry out firing displays with flintlock muskets. On one Sunday per month you can observe as rangers show how a large-caliber naval canon would have been used during battles.
Be sure to spend some time at the Perry’s Victory Visitor Center. Watch a short movie about the history and consequences of the Battle of Lake Erie. Discover more about the battle via art displays, dioramas, interactive exhibits and original artifacts. Ponder what you have seen while sitting on the benches and grassy lawns that surround the memorial.
The memorial sits at the entrance to Put-in-Bay, the main village on South Bay Island. Reach the island by catching a ferry from Port Clinton and Sandusky. A fun way to get around the island is via golf carts, which are available to rent in Put-in-Bay.
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is open from May to October. There are admission fees for the observation deck and visitor center.
