Time Traveler Series

• 3 min. read

If you’re like me, and many others I know, you may have, at one point, researched your family tree. But have you ever thought about the family trees of musical instruments? If you aren’t aware, musical instruments come in families - Brass, Percussion, Woodwind, and…

• 5 min. read

When we think of American innovation, names like Thomas Edison often come to mind. Born in nearby Milan, Ohio, Edison’s inventions transformed everyday life - from how Americans lit their homes to how they communicated and worked. His story reminds us that innovation…

• 6 min. read

As we step into 2026 and join communities across the nation in celebrating America 250, we’re proud to say that our story in Shores & Islands Ohio begins long before 250 years ago . The lands and waters we call home (today known as Erie County and Ottawa County) have…

• 6 min. read

Every December, the Old House Guild of Sandusky invites guests to step back in time and experience the city’s rich architectural heritage through its Holiday Tour of Homes—a cherished local tradition that opens the doors to some of Sandusky’s most historic…

• 3 min. read

If a marine animal was described as a vampire fish, with a suction cup mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, one might think it is an April fools’ joke or a character in a low budget sci-fi movie. However, this is a real fish that can be found in the Great Lakes. Move over…

• 4 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series. One hundred years ago, on June 28, 1924, the quiet communities of Lorain and Sandusky, Ohio, were forever altered by one of the most devastating tornadoes in Ohio's history. As we commemorate the centennial anniversary of this catastrophic…

• 5 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series. Have you ever been traveling around the region and wondered why there is a Perry St. or Perry’s Monument (or to be precise, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial)? If you grew up in the area, then you are most likely…

• 4 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series. It may surprise many readers to learn that the Free Love movement did not begin in the mid-20 th century. These types of movements have occurred throughout history, and while the “hippie” movement may be the most well-known…

• 5 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series There’s something intriguing about old buildings that draw you in. The history, the character, the stories embedded into the walls from generations of people who have walked the floor boards over the years. That’s why I, for one, was…

• 7 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series, this post was contributed to by both Angie George and Brian Shifflet, Shores & Islands Ohio Visitor Services Managers Christmas: For centuries, people around the world have held mid-December celebrations, but Christmas, as we know it in…

• 6 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler series As we recognize November as Native American Heritage Month and continue toward Thanksgiving, many may conjure the image of happy pilgrims and indigenous tribes dining and celebrating together. Like much of history, however, the reality of life…

• 4 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series Spiritualism, at its simplest, is the belief that spirits of the dead exist and desire to communicate with the living. Spiritualism and its adherents abounded throughout Ohio and the nation during the latter half of the 19 th century and into the…

• 5 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series If you have stopped by our Shores & Islands Ohio Port Clinton Welcome Center, you may have noticed a bit of a change in the flower beds bordering our parking lot. This spring our office crew planted over 600 native flowers and grasses that…

• 5 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series Nestled in the heartland of America, in the charming region of Shores & Islands Ohio, exists an enticing underworld that draws visitors from near and far. An intricate labyrinth of limestone and dolomite, stalactites and stalagmites…

• 5 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series Shores & Islands Ohio has a century-and-a-half-long history of providing the ying-yang of both thrills and relaxation to vacationers. Dating back to 1870, Cedar Point Amusement Park, also known as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World…

• 4 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series On the side of a small lane in Marblehead, Ohio lies a rocky plain of former quarry land, that each May turns to a carpet of gold. The creator of this yellow glow is the Lakeside Daisy ( Tetraneuris herbacea ), an endangered plant that grows on…

• 5 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series Rutherford B. Hayes may not be the first person to come to mind when one recalls presidential history, but his presidency, while contentious, has had a lasting impact on our nation. His presence in the Shores & Islands Ohio region and its…

• 4 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series On June 29, 1956, President Eisenhower signed a bill establishing the interstate highway system. But before modern-day interstate systems, natural features such as rivers, along with man-made waterways, acted as main transportation routes. Cities…

• 5 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series Did you know that your Gin and Tonic has a connection to Shores & Islands Ohio? The quinine in tonic was essential to survival in the early days of European settlement in the region known as The Great Black Swamp. But let’s start at the…

• 4 min. read

Part of our Time Traveler Series Winemaking has a long history in Shores & Islands Ohio. The region boasts two appellations, The Lake Erie Appellation, and the only island viticultural appellation in the United States, Isle St. George (the island itself is also known as North…

• 3 min. read

Published June 2022 Time Traveler Series, guest post by Brian Shifflet, Visitor Experience Manager In late summer 1873, a small group of men, under the sponsorship of the Methodist Central Ohio Conference, cleared some land on the Marblehead peninsula. In this clearing they built…

• 4 min. read

Published May 2022 The iconic Marblehead Lighthouse, one of the most photographed Lake Erie landmarks, will turn 200 years old this year and the entire community is poised to celebrate this momentous occasion. The oldest continuously-operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes has…

• 4 min. read

Published May 2022 Time Traveler Series, guest post by Brian Shifflet, Visitor Experience Manager To understand the history of tourism in the Shores & Islands Ohio region, it helps to understand a brief history of tourism in the United States. While elite colonists and early…

• 3 min. read

Published December 2020 One of America’s most important inventors was born in the Lake Erie Shores & Islands town of Milan, Ohio, in 1847. The Village of Milan is quite proud to be the birthplace of invention and you’ll see it represented all over town, from the…

• 3 min. read

Published December 2020 The Shores & Islands area is known for its rich history and connection to milestone events in our country’s timeline. From Milan’s native son, Thomas Edison, to more light-hearted history with Knute Rockne perfecting the forward pass on…