Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation)
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Why it's listed
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial occupies a narrow isthmus at Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island in western Lake Erie. Its centerpiece is a fluted Greek Doric column of pink Milford, Massachusetts, granite, rising 352 feet and topped by a bronze urn and an observation platform reached by elevator. Construction began in December 1912, the column was finished in 1915, the terraces were paved by 1926, and the memorial was dedicated in 1931. Designed by Joseph H. Freedlander and A. D. Seymour after a large architectural competition, it was built without the planned museum, colonnade and canal. It commemorates Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's 1813 victory over a British squadron, which gave the Americans control of Lake Erie. A crypt holds the remains of three American and three British officers killed in the battle, and a bronze tablet records the 1817 Rush-Bagot Agreement. The site is valued for its scale, its engineering and the history it honors.
Significance in brief: It commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie (September 10, 1813) and the Rush-Bagot Agreement of 1817, which began disarmament of the U.S.-Canada border. It is also notable for its scale as the most massive Doric column ever built and for the engineering achievement of its construction in 1913-1915.
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). NRHP reference 15000185, listed April 28, 2015. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 93 Delaware Ave., Put-in-Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | April 28, 2015 |
| Reference number | 15000185 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 and 1900- (specific dates 1913, 1915, 1926, 1931) |
| Architect / builder | Freedlander and Seymour (Joseph H. Freedlander and A. D. Seymour of New York); landscaping by Wadley and Smythe of New York |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and public in the form. The column has had no major rehabilitation since construction, and the terraces and seawalls are deteriorated, with rehabilitation investigations underway. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.65439, -82.81147 (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 15000185.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2071814
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.