History

Plaque for the first battle of the War of 1812.

The First Battle Site

The first War of 1812 battle on Ohio soil was fought here when about 60 exhausted citizen soldiers were ambushed by about 130 Indians on September 29. Twenty men held the Indians at bay in a cabin while the main body escaped by boat to Cedar Point. Two days later the defenders were rescued. Forty Indians including several chiefs and 8 Americans were killed in the skirmish, neither a victory nor a defeat for either side. The Ohio Historical Marker is not far from the Marblehead Lighthouse. You’ll find a small park on the south side of County Road 135 with parking spaces. There are several other historical markers in the area.

Johnson’s Island Confederate Prison Cemetery

Maintained by the U.S. Government, Department of the Interior, the Johnson’s Island Confederate Cemetery is the final resting place for 206 Confederate officers. These men died in captivity during the period when the island was used as a prisoner of war facility, 1862-1865. A statue of a…

The Keeper’s House

The Wolcott Keeper’s House, at 9999 E. Bayshore Road in Marblehead, is the oldest surviving home in Ottawa County. This house was built in 1822 by the keeper of the nearby Marblehead Lighthouse, Benajah Wolcott. A second Keeper’s House is located next to the lighthouse. The house is a “hall and…

Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society Musuem

Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society Museum, at 110 Lighthouse Drive (off SR 163) in Marblehead, is located next to the lighthouse. The Marblehead Lighthouse Historic Society operates this museum in the restored Keeper’s House. The Keeper’s House was the residence for 16 lighthouse keepers…

Lifesaving Station Museum

The Lifesaving Station Museum is located near the Marblehead Lighthouse at Marblehead Lighthouse State Park and features a variety of exhibits and an authentically restored 27-foot Coast Guard rescue boat complete with launching railway. Exhibits describe boating safety, the history of the U.S.…