DiscoveringOhio

A Day in Berlin

It's easy to hear someone talk about Ohio's Amish Country and picture rolling hills, country roads, a barn or two and the obligatory horses and buggies.

And while, if you visit Amish Country, you're likely to come across most or all of those things, there's a lot more to the area than nice scenery.

Take, for example, the vibrant town of Berlin. 

Now the oldest existing village in Holmes County — the heart of Ohio's Amish Country — Berlin began as an unassuming country town whose industry and shops propelled it into what it is today: A hub of craftsmanship and artistry with an old-meets-new appeal that holds promise for millennials (check out the uber-hip Moxie, pictured below), seasoned antique hunters and "Just-curious"-types alike.

We stopped in Berlin on a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend, and it seemed loads of others had the same great idea.

After parking in a lot at the outskirts of town, we walked toward Main Street to begin a busy day of browsing.

A number of artisans had set up displays along the sidewalk, while the merchants along the street ensured a steady stream of foot traffic with colorful displays and inviting storefronts.

One of our favorite stops was the Catalpa Trading Company, a whimsical store whose interior was a maze of vintage books and games, toys, artifacts and memorabilia. The man/trickster who greeted us the moment we walked through the door evidently had something burning a hole in his wallet...

Before we left for Berlin, we'd made up our minds to taste some local flavor for lunch at Boyd and Wurthmann Restaurant, whose slogan, "Home Style Cooking," says it all. My chicken salad croissant, the special of the day, was enjoyed amid constant perusal of the walls decorated with old-timey kitchen appliances and tables full of folks chatting as they enjoyed their hearty midday meals.

 The shelves of pie were tempting, but we promised ourselves we'd walk a bit before we tackled dessert (and there are lots of dessert places to choose from).

A number of antique shops lined the streets, displaying rustic and country-inspired wares for both indoors and outdoors.

Our favorite antique destination was the massive Berlin Village Antique Mall, a treasure trove of all things gracefully aged: Furniture, clothing, jewelry, decor and oh-so-much-more, at what seemed to us very reasonable prices.

On our way back toward the center of town, we stepped into Sommers Olde Tyme General Store, where the smell of fresh-brewed coffee greeted us and lingered as we browsed through shelves of goods and gifts.

We took a break from the heat of the day with delicious ice cream cones from Bigg Bubb's Ice Cream, which we enjoyed from the shade of the front porch as we watched traffic go by.

It was such a fun, memorable day in Ohio's Amish Country where we experienced more than we ever knew we could!

Designer Craftsmen: The Best of Ohio

So much of the art pieces that we are accustomed to seeing in museums are hundreds of years old. We stand in awe and marvel as their beauty permeates through the earthy qualities of time -- dust, pollution and the ravages of light.

 

Sue Copeland Jones, Garden Cycle II

This summer, you have the rare opportunity to visit a brand new collection of art at The Best of 2015, Annual Juried Member’s Exhibition by Ohio Designer Craftsman.

Anita J Lehman, Moored Vessel II

 

Immediately, you will be drawn into the room, as the colors seem to bounce around the room; the materials almost glitter, revealing their delicacy and intrinsic beauty - the seeds of a masterpiece.

Tangle & Flow w/Goldfinch, Art & Dale Killian

This year’s exhibition, the 32nd, received more than 300 applications, with 61 artist selected to represent the 90 selections. The pieces were judged and selected by juror Beth Ann Gerstein, executive director of the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, California. Fourteen pieces were selected for awards for excellence. The pieces represented in the show “were chosen for their use in using craft materials, processes, or attitudes to create both art and design,” says Betty Talbott, Director of the Ohio Craft Museum.

Kaname Takada, Bottle

 

Craft is our contemporaneous antidote to our cookie-cutter, mass produced household items. “The art of craft has its roots in utilitarian function, and richly grounded in Ohio's early culture...Ohio is the birthplace of studio glass, has a rich history in ceramics, and a heritage in quilting," says Talbot. "Craft is an art form that brings art together in form, function and meaning into tangible objects and industrial folk practices."

Amy Beeler, Trajectory

The exhibit represents works in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber and mixed media, and is currently on display at the Ohio Craft Museum, in Columbus until June 21. From there, the exhibition will travel to the Southern Ohio Museum, Portsmouth, where it will be on view July 18–September 5, then on to the Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield, where it will be shown September 20–October 25.

Tom Muir,Star-Nosed Mole Belt Buckle

Some of the pieces in the exhibit have already sold, but will continue to be on display through the show’s end. The show also aims to develop a young artist, and presents a $1000 award to an emerging artist.  "Sometimes you can see an instructor's piece right next to their student's." Talbott adds, "The process of entering the show also helps develop young artists, serving as a stepping stone to teach them how to enter a piece, and show your work in a museum."

Grey Cabinet, Freeland Southard

The Ohio Craft Museum is located at 1665 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 1–4 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Telephone (614) 486-4402

Maltz Museum Exhibit Highlights America's Diversity

Ever seen one of Sandy Koufax’s Cy Young Awards? He won three with the Los Angeles Dodgers. How about the Triple Crown that Hank Greenberg won with the Detroit Tigers? Greenberg is one of only 17 men to lead the league in home runs, runs batted in and batting average.

Both artifacts and a host of others can be found at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood, as part of the exhibit, “Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American,” on display through Sept. 7.

The display debuted last year at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, and came to Cleveland this year (next year, it goes to Los Angeles). Both Greenberg and Koufax are Jewish (Greenberg was called the “Hebrew Hammer” for his prodigious home run output), but the exhibit isn’t limited to Jewish players – although there are numerous players represented including Indians slugger Al Rosen (who narrowly missed a Triple Crown of his own) and Moe Berg, the catcher who was said could speak seven languages – and not hit a curveball in any of them.

Rather, it’s about how baseball was used by a variety of cultures as an avenue to greater acceptance, including Italian-Americans like Joe DiMaggio and Latino ballplayers like Juan Marichal (the Dominican pitcher for the San Francisco Giants) and Roberto Clemente (the Puerto Rican outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates).

The exhibit also pays attention to the integration of Major League Baseball, which had a major part in Cleveland. Jackie Robinson was the first black baseball player, for the Brooklyn Dodgers, but the second was Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians (who will be getting a statue outside of Progressive Field soon). In fact, Indians owner Bill Veeck – along with Greenberg, who served as his general manager – signed many black and Latin American ballplayers, revolutionary for the day, in the 1940s and 1950s.

The display from Philadelphia has been augmented by local sports memorabilia, some of which was donated by the Indians and the Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park. There are also a variety of activities planned while the exhibit is on display, including lectures and movie screenings. There’s really no better place to go during what is shaping up to be a real baseball summer in Ohio (the All-Star Game is coming to Cincinnati in July - a week-long extravaganza that includes an All-Star Fanfest, a 5k run, and much more).

The Maltz Museum itself is worth checking out even if you’re not a baseball fan. It highlights the Jewish experience in Cleveland, nationally and internationally (the Holocaust display left me speechless). There's also a gallery of religious art and artifacts -- one of the missions of the museum's founding.

 

 

From Granville to Glacier Ridge

Ohio is blessed with several picturesque towns settled by New Englanders and Granville fits beautifully into that category. Its Alligator Mound and Infirmary Mound give evidence that ancient peoples settled here long ago. It wasn't until the 1800's that the first European settlement took place beginning with the Welsh and then New Englanders from Granville and Granby, Massachusetts. Not surprisingly, Ohio's Granville took on the style of New England villages with churches at corners, and other buildings and homes representing that typical architecture. Some of the streets bear names of the early Welsh settlers or places in Wales.

 

photo Theresa Russell

Because of the appealing architecture, Granville is a perfect place to stroll and enjoy the charms of the village, which include several restaurants with al fresco dining on the main street and of course, Denison University, set on a high perch overlooking the town.

For such a small town, the lodging options may come as a surprise. The Welsh Hills Inn, obviously referencing those early settlers, is the number one ranked inn in the state of Ohio and claims the number one spot in the Trip Advisor 2015 Travelers' Choice awards for B&Bs and inns. Other iconic Granville inns, include the Buxton Inn, the longest operating inn in Ohio and the newly renovated Granville Inn.

 

photo Theresa Russell

Currently owned by Denison University, the Granville Inn was restored to its former elegance with great care taken to maintain its period architecture, while updating mechanicals and fixtures to modern standards. Several meeting rooms range in size from a small, library-like board room to several larger rooms, including a grand ballroom, ideal for weddings and larger events.

 

photo Theresa Russell

The service and friendliness of the staff exudes a sense of hospitality not often found in larger establishments. Its Tavern at the Inn restaurant serves three meals daily and the attractive bar welcomes both locals and guests.

Once you have explored that Granville area, take a short drive to Dawes Arboretum, an incomparable display of over 5000 types of plants in an ideal spot overlooking the valleys below. One of the features of the property is Glacier Ridge, where as its name suggest, a glacier carved a lush valley. Situated toward the entrance of the property, the Daweswood House Museum is open for tours.

 

photo Theresa Russell

Re-opening on May 31, the Japanese Gardens encircle a pond as has been renovated, with trails being improved to give all visitors easier access. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the surroundings.

 

Driving back toward Granville, don't miss The Works in Newark, which explores the industrial past of Licking County. An in-depth demonstration of glass blowing draws visitors daily at 1:00PM. Don't miss the summer concerts featuring local artists that bring music to the  courtyard.

 

Head to charming Granville and make a day or weekend exploring Licking County.

 

 

 

Culinary tour of Cincinnati's Findlay Market

Barb Cooper, founder of Cincinnati Food Tours, became a tour guide rather accidentally. As owners of Daisy Mae’s Market, a fresh produce store on the perimeter of Findlay Market, Barb and her husband Barry often found themselves answering questions and giving recommendations to shoppers. Sometimes the questions were basic inquiries, such as the location of the restrooms, but other times people wanted specific recommendations on where they could find a good bowl of soup or a cup of coffee. Barb recalled a culinary tour she had enjoyed with friends in another city and decided that Cincinnati needed something similar. And although Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest public market, Barb observed that first time visitors were often intimidated and could benefit from a tour.

The Taste the World at Findlay Market tour has all the ingredients of a good culinary tour: a brief history of the market and some of its merchants with several samples mixed in. Most of the 90-minute tours are scheduled for either Wednesday mornings or Saturday afternoons. While Saturdays at the market are bustling with activity and several street vendors, Wednesday tour group sizes tend to be smaller with a more intimate look at the market. A friend and I opted for the quieter Wednesday morning tour.

Our tour started at Daisy Mae’s, then took us to six different stops around the market. Findlay Market spans two city blocks in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and includes an indoor market building, several storefronts in the perimeter buildings, and street vendors. I love that the building facades reflect the vibrant colors of the produce found throughout the market.

While you’re admiring the hues, be sure to look up inside the market building at the red iron framework. Barb told us that this is the original framework of the market which was initially built as an open-sided pavilion.

Findlay Market has a pleasing combination of vendors that sell raw food and prepared food. Newer start-ups dwell side by side with merchants that have been in business for several generations. Barb works with about 20 different merchants that sell prepared food and provide samples for tour participants. She selects six of those for each tour, which means that each tour is different.

Participants can take the tour multiple times and taste something different each time. Our first stop was Fresh Table, a chef-owned operation that specializes in sustainable, local, and organic food. Founder Meredith Trombly, spoke to the group for several minutes, then gave us a sample of her Blueberry Bliss salad which contains feta cheese and fresh mint leaves.

Our other stops included Velvet Smoke BBQ, Cincinnati’s only championship barbecue; Taste of Belgium where we sampled their amazing waffles; Churchill’s Fine Teas, one of my tea-loving family’s favorites; Dean’s Mediterranean Imports; and Cake Rack Bakery. We loved not only the opportunity to sample the food, but hearing the merchants’ stories. My friend and I agreed that we already loved Findlay Market, but this tour further enhanced our appreciation of it.

On the Wings of the Aviation Trail

Everybody knows that Ohio is the birthplace of aviation, and  Ohio's Aviation Trail focuses on the history of flying in the Dayton area. The 16 sites are scattered amongst seven geographic areas, including more distant spots like Troy, Urbana and Wapakoneta. It all starts with Orville and Wilbur Wright, and the Wright brothers museum complex is an excellent place to start your tour.

The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and the Aviation Trail Visitor Center provide all the information that you need to get going.  Before you head out, be sure to visit the Parachute Museum.  Located on the second floor of the Visitor Center, the Parachute Museum pays tribute to the evolution of the parachute; the free-fall parachute was also developed in Ohio. From there, you will get a taste of the neighborhood where it all started. As part of the National Park Service, the five units of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park introduce you not only to the Wright Brothers, but also to one of their colleagues in the printing business, Paul Laurence Dunbar.

 

All five of these sites are listed on the National Historic Register and include the printing office, bicycle shop, the third airplane that the Wright brothers built, Huffman Prairie Flying Field where they launched a plane and the homes of the Wright Brothers (Hawthorn Hill) and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

 

Photo Credit: National Museum of the USAF

 

No doubt, the National Museum of the United States Air Force is probably the best-known of all the sites on the trail and also the most visited. Just the inside holds more than 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. With three attached inside spaces, the museum warrants a full-day visit and honestly if you read all the exhibit descriptions, you could easily spend several days there. I like to focus on one specific topic or exhibit. Be sure to wear comfy shoes.

 

 

Located just north of Urbana, the smaller Champaign Aviation Museum pays tribute to the WAFS and their role in World War II. Many of these women tested or delivered aircraft. Volunteers here are also restoring the Champaign Lady, an aircraft from the World War II era.

 

 

The Wright Brothers flying machine created the impetus for the evolution of flight, which continued through the space program. Ohioan Neil Armstrong , Wapakoneta native, walked on the moon in 1969. The Armstrong Air & Space Museum contains several interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience some of the duties of an astronaut.

 

Kids should get a copy of the Wilbear passport and get it stamped at each site that they visit. After visiting seven of the trail sites, they become eligible to receive a Wilbear Wright teddy bear.

 

Make a day or weekend of exploring these 16 sites dedicated to the Wright Brothers, Ohio and flight. Pack a picnic or if you are in Dayton at the right time of the year, visit the Dayton Air Show. You can read about a previous air show right here.

100th Anniversary of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

I recently took my first trip to Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, Ohio. I now understand why so many different tour options are offered here. It would be easy to return here multiple times and see and learn something new during each visit!

Stan Hywet Hall is the name of the former estate of F.A. Seiberling and his family. Seiberling co-founded The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The estate was constructed between 1912 and 1915, and the Seiberling family lived here until the 1950s. After that the hall was donated to a non-profit organization so that future generations could enjoy the majesty of this expansive home and the well-maintained gardens that surround it. Stan Hywet is Akron’s first and largest National Historic Landmark. It is among the Top 10 largest historic homes in the nation open to the public!

This year Stan Hywet celebrates its 100th anniversary. As part of that celebration, a special tour "Blueprints to Bricks: Manor House 100th Anniversary Tour" is being offered and explains how the estate was planned and constructed. A celebration is also planned for Sunday, August 16 and will feature food, vintage games, commemorative activities and more! For updates on these celebrations and other activities, visit Stan Hywet online or on Facebook.

The hall opened for the season on April 1 and will remain open through the end of the year. The hall is closed January through March each year for cleaning and restoration work. The hall is also closed on Mondays throughout the season.

I visited in early April at the start of the season. The hall was busy, but the gardens were just starting to wake up. I went on a self-guided tour which allowed ample time to explore each room at my own pace. There are docents throughout the hall which can answer questions and offer insight into the historic building, as well.

The workmanship at Stan Hywet is simply amazing! I was in awe of the ornate detail of the woodwork throughout the home. The home has been restored and preserved to showcase the era in which it was built. Fans of the British drama series, Downton Abbey, will likely particularly enjoy Stan Hywet, as it’s very reminiscent of the home featured on the television show. In fact the architecture of the hall was modeled after the style of many British manors of the time.

The room that was most memorable to me was “The Plunge,” which features the Seiberling family’s indoor pool. An actively lifestyle was a huge part of this family’s lifestyle, which I found interesting as someone passionate about my own health and fitness in 2015. Family members often slept outdoors on cool evenings on custom-built terraces, they playing sports and enjoying eating fruits and vegetables grown on the property.

And coming to Stan Hywet June 2 - September 20, 2015 is Bloom! - An exquisite 32 piece glass art installation by Craig Mitchell Smith. His stunning glass sculptures are created using kiln-formed glass, and he uses techniques that simulate brush strokes so it looks like he's "painting with glass."

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is located in Akron, Ohio. After my visit I stopped at The Merchant Tavern for dinner, and then at Pandora’s Cupcakes to pick up a treat for the road. Check out the Akron Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau for more suggestions on dining in Akron, along with activities to make your trip to Northeast Ohio into a weekend excursion!

The '50s are Alive in Columbus!

Nifty news, cats and chicks! It's not quite a time machine, but when you walk into Ohio History Center's "1950s: Building the American Dream" exhibit, you can step back in time — from the Woolly Willy on the bedside table to the polio vaccine kit to the 1957 Chevy Bellaire parked right in the walkway, complete with a shiny Airstream trailer.

Whether you're reliving your childhood or wondering what life might have been like before Roombas and smartphones, the exhibit is a great hands-on learning experience that makes history applicable, fun and amazingly alive.

Near the entrance to the exhibit, an eye-catching wall-sized timeline gives visitors a "big picture" (literally) of the historical and cultural background of the time period, throwing a number of fun facts into the mix: For example, Marilyn Monroe's dress size today would be an 8; a gallon of milk cost $.55 and the average housewife did about 56.4 hours of housework a week.

Displays of genuine 1950s memorabilia show off the fashion trends, popular children's toys (less flashy but not so different, moms and dads will note, from today's versions) and household items of the decade. 

The highlight of the exhibit is a Lustron home designed and furnished exactly as one would have been 60-plus years ago, right down to the types of food stored in the kitchen cupboards.

Though the prefabricated houses made of enameled steel — manufactured from a plant in Columbus — didn't catch on as its designers may have hoped, the one that stands in the Ohio History Center serves as a great reminder of bygone days, offering a peek into the life of a central Ohio family of four (mom, dad, boy and baby girl) during the 1950s.

A handwritten note on its door invites guests to make themselves at home: Open drawers, pick through closets, or maybe fix (pretend) Spam for dinner.

From the programming on the black-and-white TV to the genuinely retro clock on the living room wall, a step inside the Lustron home is enough to make anyone feel like a member of the Cleaver family.

The home opens out into a backyard whose shed is full of 50s-era toys, and a bomb shelter in one corner provides a somber reminder that the decade wasn't as picture-perfect as it often seemed on the surface.

According to the Ohio Historical Society, the exhibit highlights three main themes:

• Family and Gender Roles: Traditional roles for men and women and fathers and mothers were redefined by the post-World War II boom and vastly different from previous and later generations.
• Social and Political issues: From segregated housing to the Civil Rights movement to the Cold War to McCarthyism, the 1950s was anything but ideal for so many Americans.
• Popular Culture: The popular music, literature, art, and design of the 1950s is undeniably alluring and retains devout followers 60+ years later.

The exhibit will be open until 2018. For hours, admission rates and more information, visit the Ohio History Center website.

Ohio Commemorates the Civil War

This month marks the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War coming to an end, as Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union commanding Gen. (and Ohio native) Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox Courthouse, Va.

Although Ohio wasn’t the site of much combat in the war, it played a major role in the four-year conflict – and there are many places in the state to explore that history.

The Toledo Museum of Art features an exhibit, “The American Civil War: Through Artists’ Eyes,” through July 5, featuring 50 paintings, drawings, sculptures, photos and artifacts. Some are from the museum’s own collection, and others are on loan from other facilities, including the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont. Among the artwork on display is “Battery H 1^st Volunteers Light Artillery in Action at Cold Harbor,” a six by 10 foot painting on loan from the Oregon-Jerusalem Historical Society.

There will also be movie viewings, concerts, re-enacments and lectures at the museum in connection with the exhibition.

April also marks the 150^th anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated at Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C., less than a week after the end of the Civil War. Lincoln’s funeral train, traveling from the capital to Springfield, passed through Cleveland's Union Depot. It was the second time Lincoln’s train had come through Cleveland, as he gave a speech as president-elect in 1861.

In addition to an exhibit at the Cleveland Public Library through May, Lincoln at Cleveland 2015 is commemorating the 16^th president throughout April. There will be a wreath laying at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument on Public Square (which includes the Great Emancipator in bronze) and a re-creation of a funeral procession downtown. A historical marker commemorating Lincoln’s speech in Cleveland in 1861 will also be unveiled on April 28 at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument.

After the war ended, veterans formed groups like the Grand Army of the Republic and held regular reunions. A museum was formed out of one such group. Veterans of the 103^rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry – made up largely of soldiers from Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina counties – incorporated and bought a farm on the shores of Lake Erie in Sheffield Lake in 1907. By that time, they had been holding reunions for more than 40 years – and continue to hold reunions on the site every August.

The grounds include a museum dedicated to the unit. Originally built as a barracks and then used as a hotel, the building was restored and became the 103^rd OVI Civil War Museum.

Relics on display include the regiment’s flags, drums that were carried into battle, and the uniform of regiment commander Col. (later Brigadier Gen.) John Casement. There’s also a library of old Civil War books and papers that can be used by students or genealogists. The museum is open by appointment only.

 

 

 

Take a Ride at the Liberty Aviation Museum!

The Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton offers visitors something museums rarely do: Rides on exhibits!

The growing museum is home to a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor AT-B.  At the time they were manufactured in Detroit, the aluminum-clad aircraft were state-of-the-art.  In fact, the plane purchased earlier this year by the Museum was one of two that serviced the nation’s first transcontinental airline route, flying from Columbus to California regularly.

But don’t just look at the big shiny “Tin Goose,” climb aboard and fly back in time.

Climbing in, an all-original interior, including leather seats, greets passengers. The plane is equipped with 10 passenger and two pilot seats.  When the three massive engines fire up they grumble and rumble, 27 cylinders producing a whopping 1,350 horsepower.  And they are loud.

Once in the air, passengers are afforded amazing views of the Lake Erie islands, Cedar Point, Canada and are able to see the skylines of Cleveland, Detroit and Toledo through the plane’s very large windows.

Pilot Todd Mather said the shiny, silver beast cruises at about 85 mph and consumes a gallon of fuel per minute.  And, he said, riders are never disappointed.

I certainly wasn’t, and neither were Peter and Laura Lamberty, who traveled from Wadsworth to see autumn colors and fly the Tin Goose.  Peter is a pilot himself.

“It was great just to be on that airplane and seeing all three cities at the same time,” Laura said. “And that it’s a piece of history and is being maintained.”

Peter agreed, describing the ride as raw.

“Every vibration goes right to the airframe,” he pointed out. “I could easily imagine myself back in 1934 heading from California on that plane.”

Rides cost $75 for adults, $50 for children under 17 and are available on select weekends beginning May 21 and will end in October, 2015

For bigger, faster rides, try the B-17G bomber which frequents the Liberty Aviation Museum. The bomber is also scheduled to be back May 30 and run through August, 2015. Rides on the B-17G bomber costs $450 per person.

A new hangar can be found at the museum filled with planes, Jeeps, weapons and other vintage war paraphernalia.  Dozens of model aircraft are on display, plus a Ford Tri-Motor that is being rebuilt by a local group.

An authentic 1950s diner is on-site, and events held at LAM include car shows, concerts, dances, arts events, radio-controlled model airplane shows and veterans reunions, among others.  The Museum anticipates authentic PT boat cruises on Lake Erie. Currently under restoration, the Museum plans to announce when cruises will begin late spring/early summer.

This post was submitted by guest blogger, James Profitt of Wild Lake Erie.