Copyright ©2024 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.
While in Ohio earlier this month we also wanted to see more of the area we based ourselves in so, one afternoon after a morning of birding then lunch we drove back to our hotel grabbed some stuff then headed to catch the ferry to Put-in-Bay, an island on the shallow western end of Lake Erie.
We decided to be walk-on Ferry passengers. Here’s where we we’ll wait for the ferry to come in. See the ferry making its way to the dock on the right back there? There’s a blue door!

Does that big ole portal the cars, trucks, and passengers enter and exit the ferry count as a door?

It was smooth sailing over to the island. We’re almost there! I see lots of doors as we approach the island.

The view of the dockyard from the upper deck of the ferry. There are several open doors.

Welcome to the island!

Some fun facts about Put-in-Bay:
The island dates back to the War of 1812 when Put-in-Bay became an important operations headquarters for Oliver Hazard Perry. The island was the launching point from which Perry set sail to defeat the British fleet commanded by Robert H. Barclay in the war of 1812. The historic battle of Lake Erie and the American victory gave the United States Navy and our country the often quoted slogan, ” We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” For more information about the island and its history visit this website. ~https://www.visitputinbay.org/history/
Today there’s a 352 foot granite column on the battleground site. The Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. There’s a lookout at the top, which we were told has exceptional views on clear days like it was that day, but it was closed the day we were there. Two pics because I can’t decide which to share. I hope you like them both.


In fact most things on the island were closed. Their season starts Memorial week-end so, we were 12 days early . The preferred method of transportation while on the island is by golf cart or foot. We took the bus into town and had a great bus driver who shared lots of great information about the island with us. Then he hooked us up with the trolley driver who was giving out free tours of the island that day. He was nailing down his talk-points of interest about the island and practicing on us. He was great! I took a few snaps of the bus and the trolley but I can’t find them. Sigh.
This is getting rather long so, I’ll wrap it up. I have more doors and history from the island to share with you next week.
This post is part of the Thursday Door weekly challenge. To see more doors from around the world visit our host’s Dan Antion of No Facilities site https://nofacilities.com/2024/05/30/on-board-the-delta-pearl/
Nikon D850 and iPhone 14 Pro
more to come…

Thank you, Deborah. I enjoyed your photos and narrative of the history and your own wanderings.
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I think it counts as a door. It just happens to be a car door! Sounds like a fun ferry ride and a very interesting island.
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Thank you so much, John!
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Don’t you love meeting people like the bus and trolley drivers? Real travel is hearing the stories, and it sounds as though they were more than willing to tell. Ironic that so peaceful a sky shines over the site of battle. Thanks for the history lesson!
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I do! 😊 Thanks for reading. I’m so glad you enjoyed the history too.
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Thanks for taking us on the voyage … interesting place and blog post!
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Thanks for reading! It was an interesting place and one I’d like to get back to when most things are open.
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Wow! Such a fascinating history! Beautiful pics of the monument!
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
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LOL! Here you are! Thank you so much, Cher! 🥰
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I haven’t been to Put-in-Bay since I was a kid. We’d spend a day there almost every summer. Your photos are perfect, thanks for my nostalgic look back.
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That’s so cool that you’ve been there and know it! I’m glad you enjoyed the images and being reminded of your times there.
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Thanks for taking us to Put-in-Bay, Deborah. I always enjoy ferry rides and this one was especially fun with beautiful sights, a sunny day and history too.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the images, and the history, Jet! 😊
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I love the doors, and I love the history. You had a great trip, Deborah. Not many Americans know Lake Erie was historic in the War of 1812. Of course Key was famous in the same war, witnessing the battle in Baltimore’s inner harbor and writing our National Anthem.
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Thank you so much, Jennie! I had no idea about the history around Lake Erie! There’s so much! The Revolutionary, and Civil Wars grabbed me as well as the Gold Rush history while I was in school, but now I’m reading stuff about the war of 1812 that I missed or wasn’t taught in school. It’s fascinating stuff.
You know when I home schooled my kids I would take them on field trips and trips around the country and other countries that regular school wouldn’t/couldn’t do. It was such a great education in culture and history and really opened our eyes to the world and human nature. I love traveling.
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Like you, I didn’t learn about the Lake Erie history until I was an adult. Yes, it’s fascinating. Honestly, history should be taught in school with the same excitement you had. There are so many stories, and most people have no idea. Field trips are the best, it’s the real deal, and as you said opens young eyes to the world and human nature.
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It sure looks like a pretty spot, historical too. I look forward to more!
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Love taking the car with us across to islands. You both had a lovely time on the island.
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Looks like a great place to visit.
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It was. Thank so much, Pit!
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A great “Thursday Doors” post, Deborah. I love ferry rides, especially into unknown waters. Your photos have led me to many new explorations, letting me go on exciting journeys from home.
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Thank you so much, Rebecca! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🤗
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Super tour, Deborah. Your door photos were terrific. I enjoyed the visit to the island.
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Most interesting Deborah! You had lovely weather and a boat ride alsways is fun. I find it astonishing how big those northen lakes are! Like inland seas. Put-in-bay is an great name for an island. 🙂
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We did have a great day weather wise that day. I love that name. When we’re planning our kayaking jaunts we ask each other where do you want to put in? 😊I hadn’t realized the term was that old!
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I enjoyed reading about Put-In-Bay…I lived in Ohio for a short while and did not realize the connection. Glad I was in your history lesson today! 😁
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I’m so glad you joined me today! Thank you!! I learned a lot myself. 😊
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As we lived on the east side of Cleveland for many years and my husband grew up in Ashtabula, we’re familiar with that area and Put-in-Bay, although I was never on the island. It’s a beautiful area.
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He-Man has had family in Cleveland his whole life so it was a good city to fly into. We based ourselves in Port Clinton though as it was closer to the birding area.
One day I hope to return to the island when things are open. There’s a Butterfly garden with butterflies from around the world there!
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Cleveland is a very underrated city.
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😊
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This is the first I’ve heard of South Bass Island and Put-in-Bay. A map shows Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve in the northeast part of the island. The article says that the “8.8 acre parcel is one of the last remaining natural settings for people to enjoy the Lake Erie Islands.”
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It was the first I’d ever heard of Put-in-Bay as well. Not only is there a nature preserve there’s a Butterfly garden, and Lighthouse too!
I hope I get the opportunity to go back. There’s more to see!
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Just as I hope to see it for the first time someday.
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Thanks for taking us along, Deborah. Great doors (yes, the ferry portal is a door) and an enjoyable bit of history. I always forget that we fought battles on those lakes. Thanks, too for including both photos of the monument – I couldn’t choose either. I hope you have a greta weekend.
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Thanks for reading and hosting Thursday Doors, Dan! I’m glad that portal on the ferry counts as a door. 😊
I wasn’t into that war or its history while in school but, it’s sure piqued my interest now that I’ve been to Put-in-Bay!
I hope you have a great week-end as well!
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I think that war was glossed over in school with a few key dates and the fact that the White House was set on fire, and the “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written.
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Lovely selection
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Thank you so much, Sheree!
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You’re welcome
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‘Island’ and ‘Ohio’ is a pairing I wouldn’t expect. The clarity of those skies caught my attention, too. Obviously, the humidity was lower there than it is here. We’re into the lazy, hazy days of summer; it may be October before we see such clear skies again!
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Nor me! It was the first time I’d ever been to or on Lake Erie so the whole area was fascinating and just gorgeous. It’s so green! Like my valley here at home is now.
May must be one of the best months in OH because it wasn’t humid at all. I was prepared for rain knowing how rain and thunder storms just come up back east, but we were only caught in a very light drizzle once. I didn’t even need my camera rain sleeve. 😊
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