Management

Visitor Center Interior. Visitor looking at painting
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial Vistor's Center

NPS photo

Welcome to Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. While monuments to peace are rarely associated with military victories, Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory over UK naval forces in the Battle of Lake so contributed to a lasting peace between the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada that Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial (PEVI) on Lake Erie is a fitting tribute to both.

The actual Memorial is a formal Beaux Arts design whose central feature is the world’s tallest Doric-style column rising 352 feet over Lake Erie. The Memorial was built between 1912 and 1915 with money raised by a commission formed by nine states (OH, PA, WI, IL, NY, MA, RI, MI, KY) was added to the national park system in 1936.

Beneath the memorial floor in the rotunda, three US and three UK officers killed in the Battle of Lake Erie were reinterred in 1913 at the dedication of the Memorial. The approximate 25-acre park was a former swamp and forms an isthmus between the east and west parts of South Bass Island in Lake Erie.

In 2008, Perry’s Victory hosted 150,000 visitors, but usually receives approximately 180,000 to 200,000 visitors a year. For the most part, they visit the park’s Visitor Center, enjoy the park grounds and ride an elevator to the observation platform, 317 feet above the Lake.

The Memorial is open daily from May to September. Perry’s Victory honors not only the principle of settling differences between nations by negotiation but also the naval battle that helped create the mutual confidence necessary to establish long lasting peace in North America. The park is working on developing a balance between its two big stories: Perry’s victory and peace. Currently the battle aspects clearly predominate and the international peace component is being added to the park’s interpretive themes.

The Memorial and the associated dedicated cultural landscape are the primary resource of the park. The Memorial and associated cultural landscape have significantly deteriorated in the last twenty years.

The core objectives for the staff at Perry's Victory in the next five years are:

Improve the condition of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial by restoring and maintaining the historical integrity of the actual Memorial and protecting the cultural landscape and historic view shed to insure that it remains unimpaired for future generations.

Foster exceptional learning opportunities that connect visitors from all walks of life with all of the park’s compelling stories.

Inculcate the lessons of international peace by arbitration and disarmament by developing innovative education programs that reach beyond the park's boundaries and involve international audiences.

Forge stronger ties with the historical associations related to the War of 1812 to insure that the significance of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial does not remain untold.

Set the standard of excellence in greening park facilities, reducing environmental impacts of park operations and engage the community of Put-in Bay in shared environmental stewardship.

Partner with diverse groups to focus national, regional, and local tourism efforts to increase visitation and develop stewardship for the park.

Modernize park facilities, increase visitor services, and improve accessibility for park visitors.

Attain management excellence where employees demonstrate outstanding leadership, provide outstanding customer service, engage in continual learning, and practice evaluative thinking.

Last updated: January 18, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 549
Put-in-Bay, OH 43456

Phone:

419 285-2184

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