Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
93 Delaware AvePut- In- Bay, Ohio 43456
419-285-2184 | https://www.nps.gov/pevi/index.htm
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
Just five miles from the U.S.-Canadian border and standing 352-feet high, a massive column at the edge of Put-In-Bay, honors those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.
Just five miles from the U.S.-Canadian border and standing at 352-feet high, a massive column at the edge of Put-In-Bay honors those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 and celebrates the longest undefended border in the world. This site contains a small museum and monument that features the tallest open-air observation deck managed by the National Parks Service. It is the visitor’s decision whether to visit the museum or column first, but a trip would be incomplete without visiting both. The museum offers the history behind the memorial, while the observation deck’s elevation provides breathtaking views of Lake Erie and the peaceful border.
On September 10, 1813, twenty-six-year-old Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry led a victorious naval battle in the last conflict on the northern border between Great Britain and the United States. Perry’s naval battle would become known as the Battle of Lake Erie and was the turning point in the fight for the west. Ultimately, his victory secured the United States’ control of the Great Lakes. He is well known for his battle flag’s words, “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” and his response to William Henry Harrison scribbled on the back of an envelope following his victory: “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” Museum displays illustrate Perry’s battle strategy with interpretation and model ships. A short 15-minute film can also be viewed that provides historical context and explains the significance of this battle. The museum also houses a variety of artifacts including a statue of Perry, artwork, military weapons, and a wooden portion of one of the famous ships. While there is no official tour, the NPS guides are incredibly knowledgeable and eager to expand on the material presented.
In 1910, nine states (Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and Kentucky) and the Federal government formed the Perry Victory Memorial Commission to recognize this significant battle. At the base of the memorial, a crypt holds the remains of three British and three American sailors who were killed in the battle.
Notes for Travelers
This site is located on Put-In-Bay, a Lake Erie island, and is accessible by plane or boat. The Visitor’s Center in Port Clinton can help travelers identify ferries that will take passengers and/ or their vehicles to the island, as well as alternative forms transportation on the island. The National Park Service also offers a variety of talks, demonstrations and events on the weekends. Be sure to check out their website for more information, including the schedule for firing demonstrations of a reproduction 32-pound carronade.
Credits
Kristen FlemingAdditional Resources
Borneman, Walter R. 1812: The Year That Forged a Nation. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2004.Frew, David. Perry’s Lake Erie Fleet: After the Glory. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2012.
Rybka, Walter P. The Lake Erie Campaign of 1813: I Shall Fight Them This Day. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2012.