Great Lakes Historical Society Marine Museum

Built in 1909 at the northwest corner of Main and Huron streets in Vermilion, Ohio, this two-story stone building began as the Wakefield mansion, home of a family of prominent local industrialists. It is designed in the Neo-Georgian style, with a hipped tile roof, wood trim, a rectangular plan and three bays across the front and sides. The house has elaborate window openings and ornate interior rooms, and it overlooks Lake Erie. In 1968 a modern museum wing was added, shaped roughly like a ship and separated from the house by a narrow passageway. The building now serves as a maritime museum, with exhibits facing the lake. A beach lies to the north, and a small park and parking lot lie to the east. The inventory notes that erosion threatens the newer addition, while the interior and exterior of the property were rated in very good condition. It was recognized for its fine early twentieth century architecture and its link to the Wakefield family.