War of 1812 Road Trip, Day 5 . . . Put-in-Bay

View from Catawba to South Bass Island and the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial.

The Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial.  Built between 1912 and 1915 (it was not officially dedicated until 1931), this 352 foot monument commemorates Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's decisive victory of the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813.

Unfortunately, while we were there the elevator, full with passengers, got stuck.  So, we did not get to see the views from the top.  Blast it all!

So, what we did get to see is the world's largest Doric column.

Obviously a monument this size must commemorate a significant event.  Perry's victory in the waters here allowed the U.S. to gain control of Lake Erie, which eventually led to the recapture of Detroit.  All of which led to the withdrawal of British forces to Moraviantown in Canada, where "Remember the Raisin!" was the battle cry of the Kentuckians as they swept the field.  

While denied the chance of reaching the top, we were allowed inside the rotunda.

The remains of three British (Robert Finnis, John Garland, and James Garden) and three American officers (John Brooks, Henry Laub, and John Clark) killed during the battle have been re-interred in a crypt here in the rotunda.

This monument in the DeRivera Park in the village of Put-in-Bay marks the original burial place of the six officers.  

You can see the original memorial in the background.

Perry's Cave, located at the Perry's Cave Family Fun Center, is --for the most part-- something akin to what one would see at Gatlinburg and the like.  For instance, you can play at the War of 18 Holes of Golf.  However, the exception to all of this is the actual cave.

The story follows that Perry's men in desperate need for clean water were able to partake of the underground source located within the cave.

The first battle that took place on Ohio soil.  The marker states:

The first War of 1812 battle on Ohio soil was fought here when about 60 exhausted citizen soldiers were ambushed by about 130 Indians on September 29. Twenty men held the Indians at bay from a cabin while the main body escaped by boat to Cedar Point. Two days later the defenders were rescued. Forty Indians including several chiefs and 8 Americans were killed in the skirmish, neither a victory nor a defeat for either side.   

The monument above is inscribed, "In memory of Mason, Simonds, & Mingus.  Who fell near this place in battle with the Indians.  Sept. 29, 1812."  I have seen this battle referred to in various sources as Crystal Rock, but the marker is located on the southside of the Marblehead Peninsula in Lakeside Marblehead.  It is all a bit confusing, because there is a small village of Crystal Rock located south of this location and across the Sandusky Bay!  Also, the photos taken here may look a bit bit odd because they were taken after it had turned dark.