Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial – Ohio
As we continued driving west on our family road trip in 1995, we boarded a boat on Lake Erie and crossed the water to the Perry’s Victory and International Peak Memorial. Reaching this site by water made visiting it more intentional and part of the story.
Rising from South Bass Island is this 352-foot granite column that is impossible to miss. It stands like a lighthouse of history reminding us that this was once a naval landscape where control of the water meant control of the future.
The memorial commemorates Oliver Hazard Perry and his decisive victory at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, Perry’s famous words: “We have met the enemy and they are ours” marked a turning point that secured American control of Lake Erie and helped protect the western frontier.
In 1919, Congress authorized the creation of Perry’s Victory National Monument in response to veteran’s groups advocating for a memorial. The legislation was signed into law by Woodrow Wilson, officially placing the site under federal protection. The monument’s grand column was completed and dedicated in 1931.
In addition to marking a military success, this site also celebrates the lasting peace between the United States, Great Britain and Canada. Inside the rotunda, the remains of American and British sailors are interred together. The name for the memorial was later changed to: Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.
Read More From Nancy
Walking the Freedom Trail: Where America’s Revolution Still Echoes – Massachusetts
My journey through the national parks may have begun with Minute Man, but it didn’t end there. Here in Massachusetts, we embrace our colonial past, and whenever friends visit, I love to take them to Boston and walk the Freedom Trail. This 2.5-mile path winds through the city’s streets, marked by a red line that […]
Battle of Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park – Texas
Visiting many of our nation’s historic sites has often happened while I’ve been in an area teaching, and that was true for our visit to Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. The land here feels quiet and open, but the calm setting marks the beginning of a war that would reshape the United States. The Battle of […]
Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
Another spectacular National Park is Rocky Mountain National Park. My oldest daughter Emily lives in the foothills of this park, so we have enjoyed more visits than most. From the rugged alpine cliffs to the mountain lakes, this landscape reminds us how diverse this park is. Established in January 1915, when Woodrow Wilson signed the act […]
