Home

The Battle of Lake Erie, fought during the War of 1812 on September 10, 1813, took place about 10 miles from Put-in-Bay. The War of 1812 was considered by many to be America's second Revolutionary War.

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, a 352-foot tall Greek Doric column that features an open-air observation deck, was built to commemorate Perry and his historic naval victory. The museum has artifacts on display from the Perry Memorial's small museum as well as artifacts from past celebrations on the island, including the Centennial and Bicentennial of the Battle of Lake Erie.

The museum gift shop sells "Dont Give Up The Ship“ flags, clothing, and glass ware as well as a large selection of books, some written by local authors, on island history.

The museum also operates the Heritage Resale Shop, located behind the museum, where you can find a treasure or two, including local antiques, and always a bargain.

The mission of the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society, located in downtown Put-in-Bay, is to educate our community and visitors to Put-in-Bay on the history of the Lake Erie Islands, and to protect and preserve artifacts and the history of the Lake Erie Islands.

Originally founded in 1975 as the Put-in-Bay Centennial Committee, the organization was renamed in 1985 when a dedicated group of Put-in-Bay residents came together to make their vision of an island museum a reality.

The first Executive Board and full board of trustees was elected on September 27, 1986, after being operated by an appointed President, Secretary and Treasurer and three advisors for a year. This date recognized the first Membership Meeting where the members elected their representatives.

The original museum was opened at the site of the historic Put-in-Bay Bottling Works building on June 6, 1987, and that building still stands on the museum campus. In 1998, a new 6,000 square-foot building was opened adjacent to the bottling company building.

The Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum is located downtown behind the Put-in-Bay Police Department and the village's historic Town Hall. The historical society welcomes all ages to explore and learn about the history of the beautiful islands of Lake Erie’s Western Basin. The museum provides a range of activities. The society also hosts tours, lectures, and seasonal events. The museum is open daily in the summer and weekends in the spring and fall.

The Lake Erie Islands Historical Society sponsors several fundraising activities through the year including Historic Pioneer Walks, programs on Lake Erie Islands' history, and a silent auction in conjunction with Heineman Winery's Ohio Wine Festival.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------