Indian Point Fort
Also known as: Painesville Fort
Why it's listed
Indian Point is a long, narrow promontory more than 100 feet above the valley floor, where Paine Creek meets the Grand River in Perry Township, Lake County, Ohio. Steep shale bluffs make it almost inaccessible except from the east, where earthen walls and ditches cross the ridge. The ditch is about 12 feet wide and 4 to 5 feet deep, and the wall behind it is about 20 feet wide and up to 5 feet high, probably supporting a row of vertical posts to form a stockade. Two gateways pass through the works. The site is attributed to the Erie Indians, who lived in palisaded hilltop villages and farmed corn, beans and pumpkins. Remains of small circular houses and deep storage pits probably lie between the walls and the tip of the point. The Erie were destroyed by the Iroquois in 1654. The roughly 5-acre site is well preserved and lies within a metropolitan park with a nature trail.
Significance in brief: The site is attributed to the Erie Indians, who were Ohio's last prehistoric people before being destroyed by the Iroquois in 1654. The nomination describes it as a well-preserved village site that may help in understanding their everyday life. Its location in a metropolitan park is expected to help preserve it.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001543, listed July 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Painesville, Painesville |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | July 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001543 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1000 A.D. - 1654 A.D. |
| Areas of significance | Prehistoric |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site; owned and operated by the Lake County Metropolitan Park District, with a nature trail to the end of the point. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.72041, -81.17113 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001543.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.