NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?A 352-foot high pink granite Doric column topped by an 11-ton bronze urn. The Memorial serves a dual purpose: 1) It commemorates the War of 1812 naval victory over the British by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry that occurred 10 miles northwest of the Memorial on Lake Erie; 2) It is a tribute to the 200-year peace between the United States and Canada, which the Site’s literature attributes, quite fantastically, to Perry’s triumph.
BEAUTY (6/10)
The Memorial is not an achievement of imagination or aesthetics. C’mon, it’s a pink granite Doric column. The urn is even worse. But the views it provides of Lake Erie and the many nearby islands are gorgeous. While on the site’s grounds, we were also lucky enough to spot a Bald Eagle and a Red-Headed Woodpecker.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (7/10)
The Site commemorates a pivotal naval battle in the War of 1812, one which gave the United States control over the Great Lakes region and showed Great Britain they were a force to be reckoned with. Both of these factors contributed to favorable negotiations after the war – allowing the United States to retain all of its territory and trade routes free from British molestation. Who knows, if Perry had lost the war, we could all be Canadian.
CROWDS (4/10)
We visited South Bass Island, also known by its largest town Put-In-Bay, days before the start of the summer season so most of its restaurants had only recently opened. We can imagine Put-In-Bay to be a raucous good time given the many drinking establishments including what was billed as the ‘World’s Longest Bar’.
The only tourists we saw, however, was a group of about 70 Toledo-area 8th Graders on a field trip. We seemed to follow the kids everywhere on the island, including Perry’s Memorial. Their presence seemed to spook the volunteer at the Visitors Center who refused to show us the introductory video until the kids traveled from the monument to the VC, a five to ten minute walk. The video is 18 minutes long. We waited in the VC for 15 minutes. The kids were obviously not coming down anytime soon but the volunteer still wouldn’t start the video. We left and came back an hour later.
If there are problems in the low season, we would not want to visit the Memorial when the Island is packed with boaters. In addition, the elevator leading up to the Memorials top is small. Large amounts of visitors could lead to a long wait.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (1/5)The Memorial is on an island in Lake Erie. You need to take a boat to get there.
If you wish to go to the top of the Memorial, you must first walk up a number of narrow, steep, and spiraling stairs. Like we said, the elevator is small. If you have any issues with heights or claustrophobia, the trip to the top is not for you.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (5/5)
Great selection. We counted over 75 books dealing with the War of 1812. There were also an impressive number of bird watching books, nautical books and Ohio books.
COSTS (2/5)
It costs $3 to go to the top of the Memorial. It’s free if you have the National Parks Pass. The cheapest ferry to South Bass Island leaves from Catawba, Ohio and costs $11 roundtrip per person. If you want to take your car the cost is $26 roundtrip, passengers and driver cost extra. Faster and more expensive boating options leave from both Port Clinton, Ohio and Sandusky, Ohio.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (3/5)
We came into contact with three Rangers: one at the Visitors Center, one running the elevator and one at the top of the elevator.
TOURS/CLASSES (6/10)
We encountered three Rangers but none seemed very sure of themselves when we asked them questions related to the strategy and significance of the War of 1812 – this we had to look up ourselves after the visit. The 18-minute film explained Perry’s battle in detail. More background information on the War itself would have been helpful. We did not see any offers for Ranger-led tours of the Memorial.
In the Visitors Center there is a diorama of the battle scene and two large scrapbooks filled with sailors accounts of the battle and requests for pensions due to injury or service.
FUN (5/10)
Put-in-Bay was a place we never knew existed. It was fun to wander the streets and imagine just how full this little island gets. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful. The eighth grade field trip was entertaining to watch... from a distance.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (6/10)Some people like small beach towns filled with recreational boaters and people who like to party and fish. Others don’t. We think Gab’s parents would love Put-in-Bay. We spoke to a friend of ours from Harrisburg who told us Put-in-Bay was a regular destination for her and her friends from Bowling Green.
We enjoyed our day at Put-in-Bay. The weather was great, the ferry ride was pleasant. If you go strictly for the Perry Memorial, you might be disappointed. Besides the view from the top and the bookstore, there was not much else to hold our interest. Put-in-Bay, however, gets a thumbs up as an unexpected place for ribald michief.
TOTAL 45/80
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