A Day in Erie, PA
Erie, PA is this great little place on Lake Erie which has lots of things to do and lots of things to see. I only had a day to play but I would have love to have a week or at least a weekend.
Presque Isle State Park
The Presque Isle State Park has two lighthouse on it. Wonderful beaches to lay on and swim in, picnic areas, the Perry Monument, playgrounds, wildlife, kayaking areas, ponds, boat tours, fishing, and trails for walking, hiking, and biking. It is a beautiful park with lots of stuff to do and places to see. It just an easy place to spend a day or even more. Check out the visitor center which is just inside the park.
Each area of the park is a bit different. As you drive in, on the right is a bay type area and to the left is the beach. Keep driving straight and you hit the lighthouse.
Each area is a bit different and new surprises at every turn. These tree are long the side of the road and a walking/biking trail. Just a one of the neat things to see. As the waters raise in the spring flooding can happen over the years but recently, signs are pointing to record breaking water levels due to climate changes and extreme environmental swings.
The park is full of wildlife with turtles, birds, ducks, fish, frogs, owls, squirrels, beavers, muskrats, deer, raccoons, shrews, bugs, butterflies, moths, bees, beetles, and other insects. Not just one but many different species of those of them. The birds include Blue Jays, American Goldfinch, Least Flycatcher, and so many more. They also have three different kinds of snakes.
Due to weather conditions, the beach is only open for swimming between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend but they are open for anything else all year round.
Also check out all the different types of plants and trees including the Rugosa Rose, Indian Pipe, Swamp Candles, Creeping Thistles, Catnip, Peppermint, American White Waterlily, Lyre-leaved Rock Cress, Woolly Sedge, Drooping Woodland Sedge, Indiangrass, Yellow Iris, Pincushion Moss, and so much more. Mushrooms like the Beefsteak Polypore, Vermilion Waxcap, Peeling Puffball, Chicken of the Woods, Devils Dipststicks, and more.
Brief History
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry served in several military battles and fought piracy and the slave trade in the Caribbean. But he was most well known for his role in the War of 1812.
During the war of 1812, Perry was in charge of building a fleet on Lake Erie. He lead several decisive navel battles on Lake Erie including one that for the first time in British history that the entire British naval squadron surrendered and successfully returned the squadron to Presque Isle.
Perry was called the Hero of Lake Erie for his effort during the 1812 war and the quote, “We have met the enemy and they are Ours…”, was during this war.
Presque Isle Lighthouse
The Presque Isle Lighthouse is along the coastline of Lake Erie in Presque Isle State Park. Parking is across from the lighthouse but can be limited. The Lighthouse is open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Before going to the lighthouse, stop by the gift shop for tickets which is across the yard from it. They have two different types of tickets which is one for the house and one for the tower but between the two, it is under $10 per person for both.
It is a solid white with a black top which if you are willing to climb up a bunch of stairs and don’t get dizzy as they are circular, then you can take a tour of the top of the lighthouse. Watch your head and your footing as they just climb and climb with a total of 78 steps. There is no elevator! But stop to get your breath and look out the windows on your way up!
Once up in the lighthouse tower, a wonderful gentleman gave a brief history of the lighthouse and mechanic. He allowed everyone to ask questions and then took us out on the walkway that goes all around the tower.
Once out on the walkway that surrounds of the tower, it is a bit colder then below which would have been great on a hot day but it was icy cold with lots of wind when I went. But you can see over the lake water in one direction and feel that your on top of the trees in the other.
Then with the tour done, you have to climb back down all those stairs that you climb to get up to the top. Imagine being the lighthouse keeper and forgetting your glasses up or downstairs that would be a 156 step mistake.
After or before the tour of the tower, the lighthouse home is very neat. Each room has items about the history of the lighthouse and just seeing the way that the lighthouse housed the family is very neat.
Brief History
In 1872, the construction of Presque Isle Lighthouse and was completed in July 1873. The first designed was so costly that they redesigned the project from stone blocks to bricks. The tower was build with bricks at least five thick.
An interesting fact is that a shipment of 6,000 bricks was lost and dumped into Lake Erie. The bricks and/or piece of the bricks are still being found along the shore. But what is even more impressive is that from 1873 to 1944, the lighthouse only had 9 lighthouse keepers with the last two staying over 20 years each.
Until mid 1920’s, the lighthouse was the lone place. The lighthouse only had a 1.5 mile pathway through marshy terrain to get to town. It did not even have electricity until 1924. It would get a supply drop several times a year. But otherwise, it was an solitary remote place.
Erie Land Lighthouse
In the middle of a nice little community stands the Erie Land Lighthouse. Parking is a bit limited with a park next to the lighthouse so a nice area to have a picnic, snack, or early dinner.
You can walk around it but it has no tour as the lighthouse was build on a layer of quicksand in the underlying soil and has had issues from the time it was first built in 1817. It was the lighthouse that was rebuilt over and over again.
Brief History
The lighthouse was named Presque Isle Lighthouse but became the Erie Land Lighthouse when the in 1873, the new lighthouse was built. By 1880, the locals started calling it the Erie Land Lighthouse and the name stayed. In 1881, the lighthouse was sold at auction as the new lighthouse was no longer thought to be needed but it cause an up roar and was rebuilt in 1884 and reactivated in 1885.
The tower was replaced in 1851. and again in 1858, and again in 1867. The lighthouse stayed in service until 1880. But reopened in 1885 but permanently closed in 1899.
In the 1930’s, the lighthouse was bought by the city of Erie and a few years later giving over to the Historic American Buildings Survey. It just keeps coming back to life and is on the National Register of Historic Places as of 1978.
Erie Harbor North Pier Lighthouse
This is a smaller lighthouse which is used between Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. There is no access to the lighthouse tower and is owned by the Coast Guard but you can walk to it and walk around it. The lighthouse can not be seen on Lake Erie until you reach the entrance to the bay.
I was not able to as I only spent a day and it was cold outside but it is near the Coast Guard base with lots of parking and about a 1/2 mile walk down the way.
Tom Ridge Environmental Center
The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle is just before you enter the park. It has some wonderful exhibits and views. The 75 foot tower is shaped like a lighthouse and has an in the middle and stairs if you do not want to wait.
The center has a lot of great activities for children and some wonderful exhibits for adults. They have a lot on the wild life in the local area. They forces on the Eco systems as well.
The center also has a wonderful dinosaur. The second floor is all about the children with lots of stuff to touch and do. As you walk up the stairs, their is one display that is very cool as it has lots of new items on every level.
Brief History
Erie was an important place through history. The Native Americans of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy and the Seneca Nation occupied the lands. In 1753, the French built Fort Presque Isle, which means almost an island. But they burned it down in during the French and Indian War in about 1759.
The British rebuilt the Fort but it was taken by the American Indians during the Pontiac’s Rebellion. Another Fort or blockhouse was built as part of the defense of the Native American uprising. During 1812, it was used again but when it burned down in 1852, nothing was done to rebuilt until 1880 as a memorial to General Wayne who was American War hero of the American Revolutionary War and nicknamed “Mad Anthony”.
Erie Maritime Museum & Flagship Niagara League
The Erie Maritime Museum is located on the Presque Isle Bay across from the Presque Isle Park and is the docking area for the Flagship Niagara League. Check the schedule as several months out of the year it is closed Sunday through Wednesday. The cost of the Museum include touring the Flagship when it is in port and is currently under $10 per person with children at half price.
The Museum is housed in a building that from 1917 to the 1980’s, generated electricity and steam heat to Erie. It still has industry touches to it. Make sure you look up to see them. It is great to see usefulness in items that are aging.
The Museum has great pieces about the French and Indian War of 1812, Julian Oliver Davidon artwork, lots of details about the Battle of Lake Erie, and lots more. Part of the museum is a replica of part of the USS Lawrence which was Commodore Perry’s first flagship during the Battle of Lake Erie. It is very cool.
But ensure that you sign up for a time for the Flagship Niagara before anything else. Want to make sure that you get outside to see it. They allow you to climb on the ship and down into the lower desks to view life on the boat. The guide was wonderful about giving information and very knowable about all the questions that were asked.
Brief history
The USS Niagara served as a flagship during the War of 1812 and was pivotal during the war. During the Battle of Lake Erie, the Niagara was used by Perry to get the surrendered of British Ships. It was also used transporting troops, attacks along the shores, and other items as needed.
After the war, it was used as a receiving ship for newly recruited sailors before they were assigned a ship. It was sunk in 1820 in Presque Isle.
In 1913, it was raised and rebuild for the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie. Through the years, it was restore and then left alone. But in 1988, the restoration of the Niagara was take sincerely but the question comes down to is it a replica or restored because so much of the ship has been both modernized and the amount of material used on it.
Bicentennial Tower
The Bicentennial Tower is next to the Erie Maritime Museum. It looks out onto the Presque Isle Bay, the city, Presque Isle Park, and Lake Erie. The first observation desk is 17 feet up, the second is 138 feet, and an additional 49 feet to the top of the flagpole.
It can be a bit windy and colder up here so bring a jacket or sweater during your visit up 210 stairs but they do have an elevator. If your going to be in town on a the first Tuesday of the month, then it is Free but otherwise it currently $5 for Adults and children under 12, $2 for ages 7-12, and under 6 years old are Free. Along the top of the observation tower, they have signs with history and observation points.
Check the website because they have different hours and days depending on the month. Also, weather can cancel the tower from being opened.
Very Brief History
The observation tower was built in 1996, on Dobbins Landing, to celebrate Erie’s two hundredth anniversary. At a cost of 3.7 million. It was started in September 1995 and completed in October 1996.
Other things to do in Erie
Since I only spent a day in Erie, I did not get to do everything but check out all the different boat tours that they have from Scallywags with the pirate experience to a tail ship to general ships. Pirate buses, trolley’s, Splash Lagoon (indoor), wineries, miniature golf, Zippo Museum (Free), a children’s museum, galleries, an art museum, the Zoo & Botanical Garden, monthly festivals, and so many other items.
