Things to Do in Put-in-Bay, Ohio: Perry's Monument & More (2026)

The best things to do in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, are Perry’s Victory memorial, Crystal Cave at Heineman’s Winery and a golf-cart loop around South Bass Island. Put-in-Bay is a resort village of 154 people in Ottawa County, a short ferry ride off the Lake Erie shore between Toledo and Cleveland.

On September 10, 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry sailed out of this bay and beat a British squadron just north of the island. The Battle of Lake Erie gave the Americans control of the lake for the rest of the War of 1812. By 1900 the island also had 17 wineries, and tourism has been its main business ever since.

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial

The 352-foot Doric column opened in 1915 to commemorate Perry’s victory. It’s built of 78 layers of pink granite, and six officers from the battle, three American and three British, are buried beneath the rotunda floor. The National Park Service visitor center at 93 Delaware Ave. has exhibits and a 15-minute film on the battle.

★ Good to know The plazas and observation deck are closed for a multi-year rehabilitation, so check park alerts first. Parking near the memorial is tight, so walk from downtown.

Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave

Gustav Heineman founded this winery in 1888, and it’s the island’s oldest. In 1897, workers digging a well found Crystal Cave 40 feet below, a geode lined with blue celestite crystals billed as the world’s largest. Cave tours helped the family survive Prohibition while most island wineries closed.

★ Good to know The combo tour covers the cave and wine cellar with a glass of wine or grape juice; it’s open spring through late October.

Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center

Across Catawba Avenue from Heineman’s, this attraction is built around the limestone cave where, by local account, Perry’s men found fresh water during the 1813 campaign. The same grounds hold a butterfly house, a War of 1812-themed mini golf course called the War of 18 Holes, gemstone mining and a maze.

★ Good to know It’s a good rainy-day stop, and there’s a snack shack on site.

Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum

This downtown museum covers island history, the wine industry, the Victorian hotels, ice harvesting, the island road races of the 1950s and the Ford Tri-Motor “Tin Goose” plane. It opened in the old Put-in-Bay Bottling Works in 1987 and added a 6,000-square-foot building in 1998.

★ Good to know It’s open daily in summer and on weekends in spring and fall.

South Bass Island State Park

The state park sits on white limestone cliffs on the island’s southwest side, with wide views of Lake Erie. It has a campground, cabins, a swimming area, fishing and picnic spots. Bits of the foundation of the 625-room Hotel Victory, which burned in 1919, can still be seen at the campground.

★ Good to know It’s at 1523 Catawba Ave., an easy golf-cart or bike ride from downtown.

Gibraltar Island and the Aquatic Visitors Center

Tiny Gibraltar Island in the harbor is home to Ohio State’s Stone Laboratory. Guided walking tours stop at Perry’s Lookout, glacial grooves and the historic Jay Cooke Castle, and a water taxi runs from the downtown boardwalk. On the main island, the Ohio DNR’s Aquatic Visitors Center on Route 357 has live aquariums and exhibits on Lake Erie’s ecosystem.

★ Good to know Gibraltar tours run only on Thursdays in early to mid-summer, so check Ohio State’s schedule first.

Also in town

The Round House Bar books live music downtown in season, golf carts rent near the Miller Ferry landing, and Miller also sails to Middle Bass Island’s Lonz Mansion and winery cellars.

When to goThe tourist season runs roughly April through October, with most businesses fully open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. September and early October are quieter, and many places cut back hours after that.

How long to stayA long day trip covers the memorial, the caves and downtown; stay a night to add the state park, Gibraltar Island or Middle Bass.

Heads upSummer weekends are crowded and loud after dark. Outside the April-to-October season, check the ferry schedule and what’s open before you go.

Getting hereCleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the closest large airport with scheduled airline service, about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from the Catawba Island ferry dock. Miller Ferry and Jet Express make the crossing.

How do you get to Put-in-Bay?

By ferry. Miller Ferry carries passengers and vehicles from Catawba Island, and Jet Express runs passenger-only boats from Port Clinton and Sandusky. Walk-on passengers on Miller don’t need reservations.

Can you go up Perry’s Monument?

Not right now. The plazas, rotunda and observation deck are closed for a multi-year rehabilitation, but the visitor center is open in season and the park runs live webcams from the top.

Do you need a car on Put-in-Bay?

No. Downtown is walkable, and most visitors rent golf carts or bikes near the ferry docks to reach the caves and the state park.

What other Lake Erie towns are nearby?

On the mainland, try Vermilion or Geneva-on-the-Lake farther east. See all our small towns in Ohio.

Where to find them

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial 93 Delaware Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 Website Directions
Heineman's Winery and Crystal Cave 978 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 Website Directions
Perry's Cave Family Fun Center 979 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 Website Directions
Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum 443 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 Website Directions
South Bass Island State Park 1523 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 Website Directions
Gibraltar Island and the Aquatic Visitors Center 310 OH-357, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 Website Directions