Perry's Victory and International Peace MemorialAbout Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is a national memorial on South Bass Island, Ohio, commemorating Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory in the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie and celebrating the long peace between the United States and Canada. The monument is topped by a 352 foot tall Doric column with an observation deck.
Visitors can ride an elevator to the observation level for wide views over Lake Erie and the island landscape, and a visitor centre presents exhibits about the battle, regional history and the memorial’s creation. The site also includes parkland, walking paths and interpretive monuments.
Authorized in the early 20th century and dedicated as a memorial to both military victory and international peace, the structure serves both commemorative and interpretive functions and is administered by the National Park Service. The memorial anchors a historic park setting on South Bass Island in Lake Erie.
Located on South Bass Island near Put-in-Bay in Lake Erie, the site is accessible by ferry or private boat and forms a prominent landmark visible from the surrounding lake waters.
- Structure and purpose: The memorial is a 352 foot tall Doric column with an interior elevator to the observation deck and was built to commemorate the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie and subsequent peace between the United States and Canada.
What to See#
- Observation deck: Public observation deck reached by elevators that offers panoramic views across Lake Erie toward the surrounding islands and the Canadian shoreline on clear days.
- Visitor centre and museum: A visitor centre and museum with exhibits on the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and the memorial’s history.
- Park grounds: Park grounds that include walking paths, monuments and picnic areas within the memorial site on South Bass Island.
Best Time to Visit Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Best from late spring through early autumn when ferry service and on-island facilities are operating and weather is mild.
Weather & Climate near Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (886 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -8° - 0° | -10° | 47 mm | - | - | 5.7 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -7° - 1° | -9° | 45 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -2° - 6° | -3° | 66 mm | - | - | 5.1 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 3° - 12° | 5° | 78 mm | - | - | 5.1 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 10° - 19° | 14° | 85 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 15° - 25° | 20° | 93 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 18° - 28° | 23° | 87 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 18° - 26° | 22° | 91 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 14° - 23° | 18° | 85 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 8° - 16° | 12° | 59 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 2° - 9° | 2° | 78 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -4° - 3° | -6° | 72 mm | - | - | 5.6 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is on South Bass Island at Put‑in‑Bay and is only reachable by boat or small plane. Regular seasonal ferry services connect South Bass Island with mainland ports such as Port Clinton and Sandusky; from the Put‑in‑Bay ferry landing the memorial is on the island and can be reached by a roughly 10-20 minute walk or a short local taxi ride.
Tips for Visiting Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
- Take one of the earliest ferries or arrive on the island early in the day to avoid afternoon tourist congestion and secure parking at Put-in-Bay.
- Buy tower-access tickets at the monument's visitor center on arrival-tower visits are ticketed and slots can fill, so queueing early reduces wait times.
- Combine the monument visit with the short walking trails and interpretive exhibits at the site to get the historical and natural context for the panoramic views from the observation deck.