LOCATION
The Visitor Center at Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is located at 93 Delaware Avenue in Put-In-Bay, Ohio. For those arriving on the Jet Express ferry, simply walk out to the main street and take a left. The memorial tower is within sight of the dock and is only a 5-minute walk away. If arriving on the Miller Boat Line ferry, the dock is approximately 2.5 miles from the park. You can either walk, take a taxi or bus, or rent a bike or golf cart (very popular on the island).
OPERATING HOURS
The Visitor Center at Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is open seasonally. Hours are typically 10 AM to 6 PM daily from mid-May until the end of September (closes at 5 PM starting mid-September). From October 1st until Columbus Day it is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, 10 AM to 5 PM. The facility is closed at all other times of the year. For the exact times and dates, visit the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.
AMENITIES
- Ranger-staffed information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a park brochure
- Purchase timed tickets to visit the observation deck at the top of the Perry Memorial
- Park film
- Museum
- Book and souvenir store
- Restrooms
In the atrium of the Visitor Center is a marble statue of Oliver Perry that was sculpted in 1860 by William Walcutt for placement on the burial site of six officers—three American and three British—who were buried after the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, in a mass grave at what is now DeRivera Park on South Bass Island. However, the statue ended up in Cleveland’s public square until 1929, at which time it was relocated to a park in Perrysburg, Ohio. The statue is now at the Visitor Center on loan from Perrysburg in order to keep it out of the weather. A bronze replica was cast, and that statue now resides in the Perrysburg park.
PARK FILM
The 16-minute film Battle of Lake Erie plays in the Visitor Center auditorium. The film explains the battle very well and should not be missed. The story is told with historical artworks and maps as well as with a few brief, live-action battle scenes, similar to the action in movies such as Master and Commander. This livens things up for the younger visitors who watch the film. Nobody is killed, as all that is shown are cannons being fired from one ship towards another. The film is suitable for all ages.
MUSEUM
The Visitor Center museum provides general information about the War of 1812, but the main focus is on Master Commandant Oliver Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie. The centerpiece of the museum is a large naval diorama featuring the ships that fought in the battle. Information along the sides of the exhibit gives an hour-by-hour account of the battle and describes the types of sailors, soldiers, and ships common to the era.
Another large exhibit covers the weapons used in the Battle of Lake Erie. On display is a cannon, the different types of projectiles fired from the artillery aboard the ships, and muskets commonly used in the early 1800s.
There is also an exhibit on the creation of the Perry Memorial and why it became a peace memorial and not just a memorial to Perry and the American victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
If you plan on going to the observation deck of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, be sure to get your ticket before doing anything else at the Visitor Center. Tickets are for timed entry, so you may end up having to wait around for your tour to begin. In the meantime, you can catch the film and browse through the museum. A typical tourist should allow at least 30 minutes for these educational activities. For those who want to read all of the information in the museum, that alone will take about 45 minutes. With the film, factor in around an hour for your visit.
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Last updated on May 17, 2024