Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Set for $20 Million Restoration

Put-In-Bay is well-known for its summer vacation atmosphere, with golf carts filling the streets and a great view of Lake Erie wherever you go. But perhaps one of its most iconic sites is the 352-foot-tall Doric column rising from the island: Perry’s International Victory and Peace Memorial.

This beloved landmark is undergoing $20 million in renovations set to last until the fall of 2027. Updates include work on both the upper and lower plazas and bringing up-to-date facilities to the monument, all while keeping its history intact. Specific items on the docket for improvement include structural and waterproofing work, renovating restrooms and improving accessibility to accommodate all visitors. 

Over a century after the War of 1812, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial was built to remember the veterans who fought in the battle of Lake Erie. The National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, an allocation that comes from the Great American Outdoors Act, will fund the $20 million in restorations and upgrades. (The Great American Outdoors Act prioritizes the maintenance of national parks and repairs buildings, roads and utilities.)

During the initial stage, which begins this summer, the upper plaza will be limited for guests, as the pavers are being removed so that structural assessments can be made. However, access to other locations on-site such as the observation deck, rotunda and the 352-foot Memorial Column will remain.

After this summer, work will resume in March 2026 with the construction phase and continue through November 2027. During this period, the visitor’s center and the grounds will be open, but the memorial and observation deck will be closed to the public.

“It has been a long process to get such a substantial project to this stage," Perry’s International Victory and Peace Memorial acting superintendent Mary Pat Doorley said in a May 15 , 2025, press release. “We are excited to rehabilitate the area around this iconic landmark and help provide lasting memories for visitors.”

For more information about Perry's Victory and International Peace Monument, visit nps.gov/pevi.

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