Put-in-Bay, Ohio

History

Put-in-Bay is one in a group of about 20 islands at the western end of Lake Erie. (The island is actually named South Bass Island but is typically referred to as Put-in-Bay.) It served as an operation base for Oliver Hazard Perry who sailed from the harbor of Put-in-Bay to defeat the British fleet during the War of 1812. To commemorate the naval battle, a monument in the shape of a Greek Doric column stands tall in the downtown harbor area. The island, originally used for raising sheep, became known for winemaking in the 1850s, and wines from this area rivaled the best French wines. The town of Put-in-Bay was incorporated in 1876, and soon became known as a vacation getaway. The most famous island hotel of the time was the Hotel Victory; it had the first coed swimming pool and was thought of as one of the grandest hotels in the world. It burned to the ground in 1919 and the ruins are still visible. Today, the original village is the downtown area of the island.