War Of 1812 Battle Site
Also known as: Giddings Plot; Giddings Monument; Battlefield Monument
Why it's listed
A 10-foot-square fenced plot beside Bay Shore Road on the Marblehead Peninsula marks the first War of 1812 battle fought on Ohio soil. In September 1812, about sixty militia volunteers crossed Sandusky Bay to look for hostile Indians and were attacked on the peninsula by roughly 130 warriors. Some took refuge in a log cabin and held out for three nights and two days on parched corn and roasted pumpkin until a rescue party arrived from Fort Avery. Six militiamen died and eight were wounded. Among the party was young Joshua Giddings, later an anti-slavery congressman, who retold the story and in 1857-58 erected the stone monument naming the fallen. A bronze tablet was added in 1914 by the United States Daughters of 1812. The monument is believed to be the first battle monument in Ohio. Surrounding development has blocked the former view of Lake Erie.
Significance in brief: The site marks the September 1812 clash between Ohio militia and a British-influenced Indian war party on Marblehead Peninsula, the first battle of the War of 1812 fought on Ohio soil. Six militiamen were killed and eight wounded. The 1858 monument is believed to be the first battle monument erected in Ohio.
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 72001038, listed February 23, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | East Bay Shore Rd., 1 mi. W of jct. with T-142, Mineyahta-on-the-Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | February 23, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001038 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1812 & 1858 (19th Century) |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and unaltered, on its original site. The surroundings are described as run-down homes, tourist cabins and storage sheds, and the site may be threatened by new construction. Used as a park. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.51418, -82.74518 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 72001038.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138646553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.